Gov't: UK using Malvinas as excuse to raise military spending

The Foreign Ministry has accused the United Kingdom of using an alleged Argentine threat to the Malvinas Islands in order to boost its military budget, while also claiming that the archipelago has been turned into an electoral campaign issue.

After Defence secretary Michael Fallon announced earlier today that the British military garrison on the disputed islands would be increased, due to what he dubbed a "live threat" against the Malvinas, the government responded with a terse statement.

According to the Foreign Ministry, headed by Héctor Timerman, the UK is guilty of "bringing up the ghost of a supposed Argentine threat in order to increase the military budget," a move the department described as "unjustifiable."

Argentina also accused the David Cameron administration, which in May will seek re-election, of "consolidating the growing militarisation of the islands."

The upcoming vote also drew the attention of the government, which criticised what it dubbed an attempt to use the Malvinas "as an electoral campaign issue."