Pentagon's Falklands email touches a nerve in Britain - and makes Charles's US visit even more challenging

Mention the Falklands War and dig up the issue of America's support over them and something deep inside the British psyche goes off like a landmine. 

Do so on the eve of a royal visit to the US and the blast is amplified.

Buried in a 'Pentagon email', Reuters has today reported, there is an option suggesting American support for European imperial possessions is reviewed at some point in the future.

The Falklands is only one of several territories mentioned. There is no suggestion at this stage of any concrete action.

The suspicion is Pentagon paper pushers are drawing up ideas to salve the president's misplaced fury over NATO not doing more over Iran.

But none of that has averted predictable hysteria erupting across Britain's news media. 'Bombshell' screamed many outlets, with one misreporting that the US president is already 'directing' the Pentagon to pull support over the South Atlantic islands.

From tabloids to broadsheets, a full court effort to push readers buttons and mobilise British outrage over the issue. The reaction says a lot more about British insecurity over the Falklands than justifiable and genuine official concern over the story.

But there are good reasons for the emotional reaction.

The Falklands War remains a source of both patriotic pride and deep trauma in Britain.

More than a thousand British personnel were killed or wounded. More were mentally scarred by what they witnessed there. In this small island nation most of us know someone who was involved.

It was also a successful military operation, repelling invaders and reclaiming the territory. But with pride over that achievement there is also the knowledge that Britain could not pull it off again.

The Falklands War is one of a number of high watermarks in the narrative of national malaise and decline.

More importantly today's Reuters story touches a nerve because there have always been misgivings about America's conduct during the war.

It was not the full throated support the British government would have hoped for from its special relationship ally.

There was at first scepticism from the Reagan administration. A sense the British were embarked on a throwback to the Gilbert and Sullivan era of warfare and taking a massive gamble.

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As the war progressed, the US moved from a more neutral position to lending military, intelligence and logistical support but it seemed all too reluctant to many on this side of the Atlantic.

There is therefore plenty of scar tissue over the Falklands that this story threatens to unpick just on the eve of the King's visit to the US which is deeply contentious already.

'Trophy guest' Charles

We were already going to have to witness King Charles being shown off like a trophy guest by a vain and erratic US president enmired in endless controversies.

From allegations of personal and family corruption, to starting a war that's jeopardised the entire global economy, to personally belittling the sacrifices and courage of British troops in Afghanistan.

And it is that stinging and unforgivable insult that the monarch and the people he leads as commander in chief will remember most painfully as he is paraded around the States.

What was already looking like a very difficult trip for King Charles requiring a whole box of nose clips has just got even more challenging.

Nebulous as it is this Pentagon memo rakes over the coals of America's lacklustre support the last time Britain went to war alone and does nothing to ease the King's ordeal.

(c) Sky News 2026: Pentagon's Falklands email touches a nerve in Britain - and makes Charles's US visit ev