Falklands stance infuriated Britain and affected talks

Ireland’s controversial stance on the Falklands crisis sparked deep anger in Britain and prompted fears of longer term damage to fragile Anglo-Irish relations.

Ireland had backed sanctions against Argentina following its invasion of the Falklands, but then appeared to backtrack when it sought an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council, of which Ireland was a temporary member, to prepare a new resolution.

Ireland framed its approach to the Falklands crisis as one in which Ireland was protecting its neutrality, but the British government led by Margaret Thatcher saw it differently, while some in the British media fulminated against Ireland’s stance.