Argentina does not have the military capability to invade the Falkland Islands, according defence minister Gerald Howarth.
Recent months has seen Buenos Aires place increasing pressure on the UK to negotiate the sovereignty of the disputed islands, liberated from Argentine forces following the 1982 invasion.
Tension between the two countries has been rising ahead of the 30th anniversary of the war, with some quarters of the Argentine media calling for a second invasion of Las Malvinas. However Howarth has dismissed the talk as “sabre rattling”.
Last week, David Cameron confirmed that the Falklands issue had been discussed by the National Security Council, adding that Argentina's attitude towards the archipelago was "colonialist".
In response, the Argentine president rubbished Cameron's claims as "nonsense"
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said: "They are trying to paint us as bad guys, or violent guys and really, that is not who we are."
Cutbacks to the Royal Navy has led some MPs to question Britain’s ability to defend the South Atlantic enclave should Argentina’s rhetoric turn into action.
On Thursday, Conservative MP Edward Leigh addressed parliament on the issue of the government’s defence cuts. He said: “If there was to be a war with Iran or Argentina, we would not be fighting it in the Channel. We would be fighting it, in the case of Argentina, thousands of miles from any shore-based defence systems.”
In response, Howarth said: “You raise concerns which are widespread around the country, particularly in light of the sabre-rattling by Argentina. But I think it is very important that you understand that ministers are very seized of this matter.
“All the advice we have is that there is neither the capability nor the intention by the Argentines to repeat the folly of 1982 and that the military deterrent that we have is up to the task.”
In February, the Duke of Cambridge is due to be deployed to the Islands for six weeks as part of his RAF service.