Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Argentine President Javier Milei has sharply criticised the United Nations, calling it a “useless organisation” during his address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Milei accused the organisation of failing to deliver on its founding objectives, including maintaining international peace and security and protecting human rights.
He also used the speech to renew Argentina’s claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, arguing that the UN had failed to produce meaningful progress in the decades-old dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
Milei’s remarks formed part of a broader criticism of multilateral institutions and what he described as excessive international bureaucracy. The UN General Assembly’s 81st session is being held under the theme of restoring trust and managing global transformation.
‘Useless organisation’ criticism
Milei argued that the UN had moved away from the principles on which it was established.
He said the organisation had become a “useless organisation” serving what he described as a group of “fatally arrogant parasites” presented as well-intentioned bureaucrats.
The remarks represent Milei’s continuing criticism of the UN. He has previously used his appearances before the General Assembly to challenge the organisation’s approach to international governance, human rights and global institutions.
According to AFP reporting carried by several international outlets, Milei accused the UN of failing in its responsibility to guarantee collective security and human rights, arguing that the organisation had instead allowed instability, violence and terrorism to persist.
His criticism was not limited to the Falklands dispute. Milei also challenged what he sees as the UN’s approach to Israel, international security and issues including migration and global development policy.
Falklands dispute becomes central to speech
A major part of Milei’s address focused on the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic that Argentina claims as the Malvinas.
The dispute dates back decades and became the subject of war in 1982, when Argentine forces invaded the islands. Britain subsequently retook control following a 74-day conflict.
Milei argued that the UN had failed to adequately address Argentina’s sovereignty claim despite repeated international resolutions calling for a negotiated settlement.
He particularly referred to UN General Assembly Resolution 31/49, adopted in 1976. The resolution called on Argentina and the United Kingdom to refrain from unilateral actions that could alter the situation while negotiations over the sovereignty dispute were being pursued. The resolution was adopted by the General Assembly with 102 votes in favour, one against and 32 abstentions.
Argentina has long argued that British exploration and exploitation of natural resources around the islands violate the spirit of the resolution.
The United Kingdom has rejected that interpretation and has maintained that development of the islands’ natural resources falls within the authority of the Falkland Islands government and is consistent with applicable law. UN documents record the differing positions of Argentina and Britain on the issue.
Oil exploration adds new tension
The dispute has gained additional economic significance because of offshore oil exploration in the North Falkland Basin.
Milei criticised the Sea Lion offshore development during his UN address, arguing that the exploitation of resources in the disputed area should not proceed while the sovereignty issue remains unresolved.
The Argentine government has previously objected to companies involved in oil exploration around the islands and has taken measures against firms and individuals associated with the project.
The Guardian reported that Argentina began sanctions proceedings against more than 60 companies and individuals linked to the offshore oil project earlier in September.
The issue is significant because potential offshore oil production could increase the economic importance of the Falklands dispute while adding another point of tension between Buenos Aires and London.
Argentina wants sovereignty negotiations resumed
Milei used his speech to call for the United Kingdom to return to negotiations over sovereignty.
Argentina has consistently argued that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
The UN has also repeatedly called for a peaceful and negotiated settlement, although it does not itself determine sovereignty over the islands.
The organisation continues to classify the Falkland Islands as a Non-Self-Governing Territory and has maintained that the sovereignty dispute should be addressed through negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
Milei, however, argued that the UN’s failure to produce a change in the situation demonstrates a weakness in its ability to enforce its own resolutions.
He questioned the practical value of resolutions that remain in place while, in his view, actions continue that contradict their purpose.
Britain maintains a different position
The United Kingdom rejects Argentina’s sovereignty claim and maintains that the Falkland Islanders have the right to determine their own political future.
That position is supported by successive British governments and by the Falkland Islands authorities.
A 2013 referendum on the islands produced an overwhelming vote to remain a British overseas territory. The result is frequently cited by Britain as evidence of the islanders’ preference for their existing political status.
Argentina disputes the relevance of the referendum, arguing that the principle of self-determination should not determine the sovereignty question because of the history of settlement and the circumstances surrounding the dispute.
The competing positions over self-determination remain one of the central disagreements between Buenos Aires and London.
UN resolutions remain at the centre of disagreement
Milei’s criticism focuses heavily on the difference between the UN’s resolutions and their practical effect.
UN Resolution 31/49 is particularly important because it calls on both parties to refrain from unilateral actions that could alter the situation while the recommended negotiations are ongoing.
Argentina has repeatedly argued that British activity involving hydrocarbons violates that principle.
British governments, however, have rejected Argentina’s interpretation, maintaining that the Falkland Islands government has authority to manage its economic affairs and natural resources.
UN records show that the two governments have continued to present fundamentally different interpretations of the issue.
This disagreement means that the existence of a UN resolution does not by itself resolve the underlying sovereignty dispute.
Milei’s broader foreign-policy message
Beyond the Falklands issue, Milei used his appearance to reinforce Argentina’s alignment with Western governments and Israel.
Al Jazeera reported that the Argentine president described his government as closely aligned with the West and emphasised its relationship with the United States and Israel. He also criticised the UN over what he considers its treatment of Israel and international security issues.
The speech therefore served two purposes: challenging the effectiveness of the multilateral system and presenting Argentina’s foreign-policy orientation to an international audience.
Milei has increasingly positioned Argentina closer to the United States and other Western governments while maintaining a strong criticism of international institutions that he believes interfere excessively in national affairs.
Wider diplomatic implications
The latest remarks could add further diplomatic pressure to the already sensitive relationship between Argentina and Britain.
The Falklands dispute has remained unresolved since the 1982 war, despite repeated international calls for dialogue.
The addition of offshore oil exploration has introduced a commercial dimension that could make the dispute more complicated.
For Argentina, control over the islands remains a longstanding national issue. For Britain and the Falkland Islanders, maintaining British sovereignty and the islanders’ right to self-determination remains central.
The UN’s role is consequently caught between competing interpretations: Argentina emphasises resolutions calling for negotiations and restraint, while Britain stresses the wishes of the island population and its interpretation of international law.
Why the remarks matter
Milei’s comments matter beyond Argentina and Britain because they raise broader questions about the authority and effectiveness of multilateral institutions.
The UN can adopt resolutions and facilitate negotiations, but its ability to compel states to change their positions depends heavily on the political and legal mechanisms available to the organisation.
The Falklands dispute demonstrates the limits of those mechanisms. Despite decades of UN involvement, Argentina and Britain have not reached a settlement on sovereignty.
The dispute also illustrates how territorial claims, natural resources, national identity and international law can intersect in a prolonged geopolitical conflict.
For African and other developing countries, the debate has wider relevance because many international disputes involving territory, natural resources and decolonisation continue to rely on multilateral institutions for negotiation and dispute management.
What happens next
Argentina is expected to continue pressing its sovereignty claim diplomatically, including through international forums.
The United Kingdom has shown no indication that it intends to surrender sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and continues to emphasise the position of the islanders.
The immediate focus is also likely to remain on offshore oil development and Argentina’s measures against companies associated with exploration around the islands.
Whether the latest exchange leads to renewed negotiations remains uncertain. The UN continues to support a peaceful settlement, but the fundamental positions of Argentina and Britain remain far apart.
Milei’s latest speech therefore adds another high-profile confrontation to a dispute that has remained unresolved for generations.
Sources
- United Nations — General Assembly records and Resolution 31/49 on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
- United Nations Digital Library — Documentation on the continuing positions of Argentina and the United Kingdom regarding the Falklands dispute.
- Associated Press — Report on Milei’s UN General Assembly speech and renewed Falklands claim.
- Reuters — Reporting on Argentina’s position on the Falklands dispute and Milei’s wider criticism of the UN.
- Al Jazeera — Coverage of Milei’s UN speech and Argentina’s dispute with Britain.
- The Guardian — Reporting on Milei’s criticism of the UN, the Falklands dispute and offshore oil development.
