Lines being drawn & Washington's not part of it

As the newest dispute over control of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) makes it way onto the floor of the United Nations, it's been made clear who won't have any part of it: the United States.

It will be reported in tomorrow's edition of The Times that the Obama Administration will not endorse British sovereignty over the contested islands off the coast of Argentina, instead saying that the US only recognises the current, de facto British administration. This, save Reagan's support for British forces to reclaim the Falklands during the 1982 conflict, reaffirms the position US administrations have stated since Britain first assumed control of the islands in 1832.

For those thinking that this position might help the US re-curry support from the nations of Central and South America: don't count on it. This past weekend, as members of the Rio Group met in Cancún, Mexico, to coalesce their support for Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the Falklands, South Georgian and Sandwich islands, that group announced plans to devise a stronger bloc that could possibly supplant the Organization of American States. This bloc, tentatively named La Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, would include the membership of every member of the OAS except the US, Canada, and Suriname. This includes two members of the Commonwealth, Belize and Guyana. Although foreign affairs officials from both the Rio Group and the US say that this new bloc would not replace the OAS, rhetoric from certain leaders, including Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and Mexican president Felipe Calderon, might suggest otherwise.

As Rio Group leaders turn up the pressure on the UK to enter negotiations, initial drilling for oil continues 100 miles north of the Falklands. And the island's population, so say British ministers, are staunchly in favour of remaining under the Union Jack. All the while, all we're getting from the White House Press Secretary are his ruminations as a newbie to Twitter.