LONDON, Feb 18, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Foreign minister David Cameron is to visit the Falklands Islands, over which the UK fought a war with Argentina in 1982, where he will stress London's commitment to its right to self-determination, his office said Sunday.

Cameron will visit the South Atlantic archipelago during the first leg of his trip to South America and New York, the first visit of a UK cabinet minister to the islands since then defence secretary Michael Fallon in 2016.

It comes amid the rise to power of maverick Argentine President Javier Milei, who has said he hopes to recover the islands diplomatically, although UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected the idea.

Cameron will meet Falkland islanders "and see their work to build a thriving community and protect their natural environment," said the Foreign Office, but did not specify a date.

"He will reiterate the UK's commitment to uphold the islanders' right of self-determination," it added.

Argentina claims it inherited the windswept islands from Spain when it gained independence while Britain says it has historically ruled them and that the islanders should have the right to self-determination.

Falkland islanders voted 99.8 percent in favour of remaining British during a 2013 referendum.

Cameron said that the islands "are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.

"The Falkland islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built," he added.

Cameron will honour British service personnel who lost their lives during the 1982 conflict.

The war claimed the lives of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three islanders.