Universities minister David Willetts is due to land in the Falkland Islands on Thursday, in a move that is sure to raise the hackles of Argentina.
He is making the stop over on the islands enroute to Antarctica, where he is planning to spend time with scientists at the British Antarctic Survey, it has been reported.
Speaking to The Times, Willetts repeated the British government's line that the Falklands would remain British for as long as its people wished it.
"What matters is the right of self determination of the people in the Falklands," he said.
"They made it very clear they wish to remain British, and this should be seen part of the Britain’s historic links to the south Atlantic and the Antarctic. Britain was crucial in the opening up of the Antarctic.”
According to the paper he will hold a "morale-boosting" dinner with the governor of the Falklands, Nigel Haywood. Up for discussion is whether young people from the territory should pay tuition fees.
News of the visit comes just one day after MPs from the Commons defence committee confirmed they would visit the islands to inspect its military installations.
Islanders are preparing to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their liberation from the 1982 Argentinian invasion. Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne is set to make the trip to the South Atlantic as part of the ceremonies.
The war of words between London and Buenos Aires over the sovereignty of the islands has been simmering for weeks, with Argentina particularly unhappy at the deployment of HMS Dauntless and Prince William to the region.
While the British government has condemned Argentina's decision to persuade South American countries to ban Falkland Island flagged ships from docking at their ports.
The diplomatic spat took an bizarre turn this week when Hollywood actor Sean Penn waded into the row, criticizing British "colonialism" in the region.