Falkland Islands

Falklands on agenda in minister's first Brazil visit since warship refused port

Brazil is expected to be confronted today over its backing of Argentina in its dispute with Britain on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is the first British minister to visit the country since it refused to let the Royal Navy protection ship HMS Clyde enter port in Rio in January.

His three-day visit will see him meet Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota this afternoon. The country is understood to be keen to promote trade links with Britain.

The meeting comes after last week's attack on the British Prime Minister by Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez.

She said Britain was a "crude colonial power in decline" and condemned remarks in the Commons by Prime Minister David Cameron about the sovereignty of the islands as an expression of "mediocrity and stupidity".

Mr Cameron had told the Commons: "I would say this: as long as the Falkland Islands want to be sovereign British territory, they should remain sovereign British territory - full stop, end of story."

Argentina insists Britain should negotiate over the South Atlantic islands, which the two countries fought a 10-week war over in 1982.