Secret Decree of 1977: The Plan to Occupy Southern Thule and the Current Falklands Dispute

On August 28, 2019, the government of Mauricio Macri declassified a secret decree from the last military dictatorship that revealed the first concrete attempt to recover the Falkland Islands. This is Secret Decree 2085, signed by Jorge Rafael Videla on July 18, 1977, which authorized the continuation of «Operation Sol» to peacefully occupy Southern Thule Island, in the South Sandwich Islands group. The document, which remained hidden for more than four decades, came to light in a context of renewed diplomatic tension with the United Kingdom.

The content of the decree and Operation Sol

Secret Decree 2085, dated July 18, 1977, authorized the Ministry of Defense to continue logistical tasks to complete the necessary facilities for the «effective and peaceful occupation» of Southern Thule Island. The operation, named «Operation Sol,» sought to reaffirm Argentine sovereignty through scientific activities. The text indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship considered these tasks necessary in support of the foreign policy of reaffirming national sovereignty.

The first stage of Operation Sol had been carried out between 1975 and 1976, but it was under the military government that it received its final impetus. The decree also allocated a budget: 300 million pesos and 100,000 dollars for Jurisdiction 47 of the Navy General Command, corresponding to Fiscal Year 1977.

The origin of the initiative and the British reaction

The idea of occupying Southern Thule through scientific activities came from Captain Juan José Lombardo, who in early 1974 proposed it to then-President Juan Domingo Perón. The objective was to assess the United Kingdom’s reaction to an Argentine presence in the area. However, it was only under the military dictatorship, after the overthrow of María Estela Martínez de Perón, that Operation Sol received support and was launched.

British authorities at the time preferred not to make a public scandal, which was interpreted by the Military Junta as a sign of weakness. That perception encouraged the plans that eventually led to the 1982 war.

Declassification and current context

The declassification of the decree in 2019 occurred within the framework of a transparency policy regarding sensitive documents from the dictatorship. The text was released by the Macri government, but the specific reasons for that decision were not explained at the time.

Currently, the sovereignty dispute remains in force. On July 13, 2024, the Argentine Foreign Ministry, on the instructions of Chancellor Quirno, presented a formal protest note to the United Kingdom Embassy over the transit of the HMS Medway through Argentine territorial waters, without the prior notification required by bilateral agreements.

Documented chronology

1. 1974: Captain Juan José Lombardo proposes to President Perón the peaceful occupation of Southern Thule Island to assess the British reaction.
2. 1975-1976: The first stage of Operation Sol is carried out, with initial installation tasks.
3. July 18, 1977: Videla signs Secret Decree 2085 authorizing the continuation and completion of logistical tasks for the effective and peaceful occupation of Southern Thule.
4. August 28, 2019: The Macri government declassifies the decree, revealing the secret plan.
5. July 13, 2024: The Argentine Foreign Ministry formally protests the passage of HMS Medway without notification, within the framework of the ongoing dispute.

Value module: budget allocated in 1977

What to follow

The key point to follow is the United Kingdom’s response to the Argentine protest over HMS Medway, as well as any new declassification of military documents that may shed light on covert operations in the South Atlantic. It is also relevant to monitor official statements on compliance with UN Resolution 31/49.