The British government tabled a White Paper on Thursday officially pledging to defend the Falkland Islands and declared there would be "no weakening" in the country's resolve.

The White Paper, which sets out details of future policy, outlined the government's vision for the future of Britain's 14 overseas territories and was signed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

"We will continue to ensure that our sovereignty over the Territories is defended against all challenges so that, for those who live in the Territories as British citizens, their right of self-determination is protected," said the paper.

"In the South Atlantic, British forces will maintain a defensive military posture to defend the Falklands and other British islands.

"There will be no weakening of the Government's resolve," it stressed.

Mr Cameron and Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner clashed publicly at last week's G20 summit over the future of the disputed islands.

Argentinian officials branded the British leader a "colonialist" in dismissing Kirchner's call for talks on the sovereignty of the islands, while Cameron said he had been attempting to counter Argentina's "propaganda".

The pair came face-to-face at the meeting of the world's major economies in Mexico, at a time when tensions between their countries were already running high just days after the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Mr Cameron urged Mrs Kirchner to respect the will of the 3,000 residents on the South Atlantic islands, who want to remain British. Kirchner countered him by citing UN resolutions calling for sovereignty negotiations.

Mr Hague explained that the paper highlighted the importance the government attaches to its overseas territories.

"We appreciate the remarkable diversity of the Territories, each with their own specific attributes, opportunities and challenges," he said.

"This White Paper is designed to meet these challenges, to set out ways we can support the Territories and strengthen our engagement with them.

"It is another major milestone in our long and shared history, and I hope it will mark a new era of engagement between Britain and the Overseas Territories," he added.----

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9363895/Britain-files-White-Paper-officially-pledging-to-defend-Falklands.html