In commemorating the beginning of what was to be a 74-day war in which 255 British servicemen died, those in the Falklands and in Britain were keenly aware of recent sabre-rattling actions by Argentina that have served to remind the world that it has never accepted that it has no legal claim to the islands that it continues to call “las Malvinas”.
Few would argue that Argentina is about to launch another military invasion of the islands – at least, not yet. But a war of words seems to have well and truly started. And this time, things are different.
In 1982, Argentina was run by a military dictatorship, which caused huge discontent and suffering to its own people, and it was largely isolated by its immediate neighbours in Chile, Uruguay and Brazil.
Nowadays, though, those same countries, like most Latin American countries and the Caribbean, are largely supportive of Argentina’s Falklands claims.
And although historically, Argentine president Cristina Fernández may be on shaky ground in arguing Argentina’s right to claim the Falklands as its own, the political support she has received from the likes of Brazil and Chile to date has put her on terra firma among her constituents.
Indeed, La Presidenta has mustered enough support to engage an effective trade embargo that has made life more difficult, to say the least, for the Falklanders (or Kelpers as they are sometimes called, after the banks of seaweed that surround the islands), I discovered recently, on my first-ever visit.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs are in short supply, with the locals now having to rely on regular shipments of tinned and long-life products shipped in from the UK.
What is more, Argentina now seems to be turning its attention on British businesses generally, and on British banks and financial institutions in particular.
To date, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Oriel Securities have received direct warnings from the Argentine government.
Merely writing research notes on exploration companies involved in the Falklands can lead to criminal and civil action in Argentine courts, I have been told.
Last month, the UK newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, was among a number of media organisations reporting that some 15 British and American banks had been sent a letter threatening them with legal action for merely advising companies exploring for oil in the Falkland Islands.
Falklanders believe it is all part of an orchestrated campaign of intimidation.
When and where and in what way it will end, they say, is the question.
Recent visitors to Argentina will describe seeing anti-British billboards along the roads, plastered with las Malvinas rhetoric, and of a systematic propaganda campaign in the country’s media and schools.
Media reports, meanwhile, have told of how a Falkland Islands family, travelling through Argentina with their 11-month-old baby, was allegedly detained by an immigration official, who accusing them of trying to smuggle an Argentinean baby out of the country. Eventually they were released, but the matter was seen as an example of the heightened tensions currently existing in the country.
Such incidents are playing out against the background of political and financial instability in Argentina, which is occurring despite a boom experienced by much of the rest of Latin America over the last eight years.
As long-time observers of South American politics will tell you, Argentina’s recent acts of aggression and its extremely well organised media campaign may be viewed as political posturing aimed at deflecting public attention from the troubles at home.
Still, in 21 years living in South America, I have never known the peace between Argentina and the Falklands to seem more fragile than it does now. Let us hope that the numerous events, articles and television shows recalling the 1982 war cause Argentina to pause, reflect, and call off its apparent campaign of intimidation, rather than inspire it to go further.
