WHAT ABOUT ARGENTINE CIVIL AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPING?
25. To avoid misunderstandings, these have been asked not to enter the 150-mile zone unless this has been agreed with HMG in advance. They have also been asked to stay clear of the Dependencies.
DEFENCE OF ISLANDS
26. We are committed to maintaining force levels on the Islands sufficient to assure their defence. My Rt Hon Friend the
then Secretary of State for Defence said in the House on 22 November that he is confident that our garrison on the Falklands has the necessary means, including early warning and a range of air defence capabilities, to ensure the continued protection of the Islands.
REPORTS OF RENEWED ARGENTINE THREAT
27. I am aware of reports in the media, quoting American intelligence sources, that the Argentines may be preparing a campaign of military harassment of the Falkland Islands and the Dependencies. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on such reports. But as my right hon Friend the Prime Minister made clear to the House on 20 January, since Argentina has not agreed to a permanent cessation of hostilities, let alone renounced the use of force, the possibility of further attacks always exists, and our forces remain very much on the alert. Any further attack would of course be firmly repulsed.
"FORTRESS FALKLANDS"?
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28. "Fortress Falklands" is something of a misnomer. It is not a policy in itself. If the Falklands are at present a fortress it is purely and simply a state of affairs caused by the Argentine aggression of 2 April and by our determination that that aggression will not be repeated. Our task is to defend the Falklands from attack: that is exactly the same as our defence policy in Britain, to provide adequate means to defend the people against any military aggression.
UNITED KINGDOM'S COMMITMENT TO NATO
29. The major threat to the security of the United Kingdom remains the Soviet Union and her Warsaw Pact allies. The United Kingdom's four main roles within the NATO alliance - providing an independent element of strategic and theatre nuclear forces committed to the alliance: defending the United Kingdom homeland: a major land and air contribution on the European mainland: and deploying a major maritime capability in the Eastern Atlantic and Channel - remain the priority for the United Kingdom's defence effort and will continue to have the first call on our resources.