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New War? UK Defence chiefs prepare new plans to defend Falkland Islands
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A series of military options are being actively considered as the war of words over the islands intensifies.
It is understood that additional troops, another warship and extra RAF Typhoon combat aircraft could be dispatched to the region ahead of the March referendum on the Falkland Islands? future.
The options being proposed by planners at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north-west London are also said to include a ?show of force? such as conducting naval exercises in the South Atlantic.
These could involve the deployment of the Royal Navy?s Response Task Force Group, a flotilla comprising destroyers, a frigate, a submarine and commandos.
Alternatives include deploying elements of the Army?s 16 Air Assault Brigade ? the airborne task force which includes members of the Parachute Regiment ? which has just completed a series of demanding exercises in Spain preparing for ?general war?.
The Government is expecting a 100 per cent ?yes? vote when the islanders are asked on March 11: ?Do you wish the Falkland Islands to retain their current political status as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom??
Intelligence chiefs have warned David Cameron that a resounding ?yes? vote could lead to an aggressive ?stunt? by the Argentine government, such as the planting of the country?s flag on the island by a small raiding party.
Other possibilities include a ?cod war? style harassment campaign by the Argentine navy of the Falklands? fishing fleet and the disruption of British oil and gas exploration.
Such a move, officers have warned, could quite quickly escalate into aggressive action if the Royal Navy was ordered to intervene.
Senior sources emphasised that in drawing up the contingency plans they were acting out of prudence so that nothing would take them by surprise.
A senior defence source told The Telegraph: ?Britain needs to be in a situation to respond very quickly to a whole series of threats ? that is why we have contingency plans. Our posture has not changed but neither are we complacent.
?There are a number of contingencies to deal with any threat to the Falklands and they are currently being reviewed. No orders have been given to any military unit at this stage but prudent planning within all units who could be deployed in the event of a crisis is taking place.
?That is quite normal. Commanders like to be two steps ahead rather than two steps behind.?
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