If there’s any oil out there, Bonzo, it will be cripplingly expensive to exploit, and the Argentines will fight for it with everything they’ve got. At present, I think they are better prepared for a fight than Britain is.

Back in the day, the Falkland Islands provided coaling and victualling facilities for passing naval and merchant vessels, and a respite base for whalers and fishermen working the Antarctic waters. They also supported a signals repeater. With the sheep, that was about it.