1982 9th January
Diplomacy
The British Ambassador of Argentina lodges a formal protest against the unauthorised landing on South Georgia on 20 December 1981 by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff
Falklands War · permanent subject timeline
Diplomacy During the Falklands War
UN diplomacy, United States mediation and failed peace initiatives. This page combines historical context with 82 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Falklands War archive.
Historical context
Diplomacy During the Falklands War: overview and significance
What happened?
Diplomatic efforts continued throughout the conflict. The United Nations Security Council called for an end to hostilities and Argentine withdrawal, while U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig conducted shuttle diplomacy between London and Buenos Aires.
Why was it important?
Diplomacy shaped international legitimacy and the timing of military decisions. The failure of mediation demonstrated how far apart the parties remained on withdrawal, administration and sovereignty even as the task force moved south.
World History Database records
Diplomacy During the Falklands War timeline
The records below are selected from the 481-record Falklands War archive using this page's subject criteria and are ordered chronologically.
1982
1982 9th January
Diplomacy
The British Ambassador of Argentina lodges a formal protest against the unauthorised landing on South Georgia on 20 December 1981 by Argentine scrap-metal merchant shipshant Constantino Davidoff
1982 3rd February
Diplomacy
Britain renews its formal protest at Davidoff's unauthorised landing in South Georgia
1982 3rd February
Diplomacy
Britain renews its formal protest at Davidoff's unauthorised landing in South Georgia
1982 25th February
Diplomacy
Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Luce begins sovereignty talks with his Argentine counterpart Ernesto Ros in New York
1982 25th February
Diplomacy
Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Luce begins sovereignty talks with his Argentine counterpart Ernesto Ros in New York
1982 1st March
Diplomacy
British and Argentine deputy Foreign Ministers issue a joint communique praising the cordial and positive spirit of sovereignty discussions held in New York
1982 1st March
Diplomacy
British and Argentine deputy Foreign Minister's issue a joint communique praising the cordial and positive spirit of sovereignty discussions held in New York
1982 2nd March
Diplomacy
The Argentine Foreign Minister says that Argentina reserves the right to employ other means if Britain keeps refusing to cede sovereignty
1982 2nd March
Diplomacy
The Argentine Foreign Minister says that Argentina reserves the right to employ other means if Britain keeps refusing to cede sovereignty
1982 20th March
Diplomacy
Carrington says a diplomatic solution is being pursued
1982 20th March
Diplomacy
States that Britain is pursuing a diplomatic settlement.
1982 28th March
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
British Foreign Secretary Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action
1982 28th March
Diplomacy
British Foreign Secretary Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action
1982 28th March
Diplomacy
British Foreign Secretaty Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action
1982 28th March
Haig Mediation
Asks Alexander Haig to intercede with Argentina.
1982 28th March
Invasion of Falklands
British Foreign Secretaty Carrington asks US Secretary of State Alexander Haig to intercede with the Argentine junta in an attempt to avoid military action
1982 31st March
Diplomacy
Thatcher telegraphs American President Ronald Reagan asking him to warn the Argentines off
1982 1st April
Diplomacy
Reagan warns Argentine junta leader General Galtieri not to take military action
1982 1st April
Diplomacy
Reagan warns Argentine junta leader General Galtieri not to take military action
1982 1st April
Diplomacy
UN Security Council meets at Britain's request and calls for restraint and avoidance of force
1982 1st April
UN Security Council
UN Security Council meets at Britain's request and calls for restraint and avoidance of force
1982 3rd April
Argentine Invasion of Falklands
UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply
1982 3rd April
Invasion of Falklands
UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council
UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council
The United Kingdom's United Nations ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons submits a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, the resolution, which condemned the hostilities and demanded immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council
Submits a British draft resolution after the invasion.
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council
The United Kingdom's United Nations ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons submits a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, the resolution, which condemned the hostilities and demanded immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council
UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply
1982 3rd April
UN Security Council Resolution 502
Resolution 502 demands Argentine withdrawal from the islands.
1982 4th April
UN Security Council
The United Nations resolution is adopted by the council United Nations Security Council Resolution 502, which passes with ten votes in support, one against (Panama) and four abstentions (China, the Soviet Union, Poland and Spain)
1982 4th April
UN Security Council Resolution 502
The United Nations resolution is adopted by the council United Nations Security Council Resolution 502, which passes with ten votes in support, one against (Panama) and four abstentions (China, the Soviet Union, Poland and Spain)
1982 4th April
UN Security Council Resolution 502
The United Kingdom's United Nations ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons submits a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, the resolution, which condemned the hostilities and demanded immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands
1982 5th April
Diplomacy
Reagan approves Haig peace mission
1982 7th April
Diplomacy
Reagan approves the Haig peace mission
1982 8th April
Diplomacy
The Haig peace mission arrives in London
1982 10th April
Diplomacy
The Haig peace mission arrives in Buenos Aires
1982 12th April
Diplomacy
The Haig peace mission arrives in London, 2nd time
1982 14th April
Diplomacy
Returns to London to brief President Reagan
1982 14th April
Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haig's 5 point peace plan and London is informed
1982 15th April
Diplomacy
The Haig peace mission arrives in Buenos Aires, 2nd time
1982 17th April
Diplomacy
Presents the Junta with a 5 point peace plan
1982 19th April
Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haigs plan unless Britain agrees to transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and allow Argentine nationals to settle in the Islands. Argentina rejects Haigs 5 point peace plan & London is informed
1982 19th April
Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haigs 5 point peace plan & London is informed
1982 19th April
Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haigs plan unless Britain agrees to transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and allow Argentine nationals to settle in the Islands
1982 19th April
Sovereignty Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haig's plan unless Britain agrees to transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and allow Argentine nationals to settle in the Islands
1982 21st April
Diplomacy
Sent to Washington with Britain's response to Haig's peace plan
1982 22nd April
Diplomacy
Pym visits Washington with the British response to Haig's proposals
1982 29th April
Diplomacy
Argentina rejects Haig proposals
1982 30th April
Diplomacy
Reagan terminates Haigs peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid
1982 30th April
Diplomacy
Reagan terminates Haigs peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid
1982 30th April
Diplomacy
Reagan terminates Haig's peace mission, declares US support for Britain, imposes economic sanctions on Argentina, and offers Britain materiel and other aid
1982 1st May
Diplomacy
Returns from Washington with the US an an ally
1982 2nd May
Diplomacy
Peruvian President Belaunde Terry presents a peace proposal to Galtieri who gives preliminary acceptance with some modifications
1982 2nd May
Diplomacy
Pym meets United Nations Secretary General Perez de Cuellar in New York. Has discussions with Perez de Cuellar
1982 2nd May
Diplomacy
Peruvian President Belaunde Terry presents a peace proposal to Galtieri who gives preliminary acceptance with some modifications
1982 3rd May
Diplomacy
Rejects the Peruvian peace plan, cites the sinking of the Belgrano. Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano
1982 5th May
Diplomacy
Emergency meeting of full British cabinet approves Peruvian peace plan
1982 5th May
Diplomacy
Full cabinet approval of the Peruvian peace plan
1982 6th May
Diplomacy
The Junta rejects the Peruvian peace plan for a 2nd time. Argentine junta rejects Peruvian peace plan
1982 6th May
Diplomacy
Argentine junta rejects Peruvian peace plan
1982 10th May
Diplomacy
Argentina declares the entire South Atlantic a war zone
1982 11th May
Diplomacy
Haig sends his deputy General Vernon Walters to Buenos Aires
1982 11th May
Diplomacy
Haig sends his deputy General Vernon Walters to Buenos Aires
1982 12th May
Diplomacy
The Junta concedes that "sovereignty not a precondition". Argentine junta concedes that sovereignty of the Islands isn't a precondition to the United Nations peace plan
1982 12th May
Diplomacy
Argentine junta concedes that sovereignty of the Islands is not a precondition to the United Nations peace plan
1982 16th May
Diplomacy
Britain's United Nations ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons sent back to New York with British peace proposals
1982 16th May
Peace Proposals
Returns to New York with British peace proposals.
1982 17th May
Diplomacy
British peace proposals transmitted to Argentina
1982 18th May
Diplomacy
The Junta rejects the British proposals. Argentine junta rejects British peace proposals
1982 18th May
Diplomacy
Argentine junta rejects British peace proposals
1982 18th May
Diplomacy
The Junta rejects the British proposals
1982 20th May
Diplomacy
Tells Parliament of the collapse of the peace process
1982 20th May
Diplomacy
Thatcher accuses Argentina of obduracy and delay, deception and bad faith, tells Commons of collapse of peace process, and orders task force into battle
1982 26th May
Diplomacy
UN Security Council Resolution 505 instructs de Cuellar to seek negotiated settlement
1982 26th May
UN Security Council
UN Security Council Resolution 505 instructs de Cuellar to seek negotiated settlement
1982 26th May
United Nations
UN Resolution 505 bids de Cuellar to seek a settlement to the Falklands War
1982 26th May
United Nations
UN Resolution 505 bids de Cuellar to seek a settlement to the Falklands War
1982 29th May
Diplomacy
Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Colombia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain
1982 29th May
Diplomacy
Organization of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago abstain
1982 2nd June
UN Diplomacy
Continues diplomacy as British forces advance.
1982 4th November
Sovereignty Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution calling for a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from the World History Database Falklands War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Reference points: Imperial War Museums · National Army Museum · The National Archives
Continue exploring