The Falklands War is the culmination of more than 150 years of political and diplomatic turmoil between Argentina and Great Britain that have not been resolved to this day. While the UK invokes the right of self-determination under which the inhabitants of the islands have chosen to remain part of the UK, Argentina firmly argues that such a population structure is the result of the British forced occupation and calls for the decolonisation of the Malvinas and the transfer of sovereignty over the islands to Argentina. Although sovereignty negotiations over the Falklands/Malvinas islands took place for years before the conflict erupted, the military invasion itself surprised the UK which did not expect Argentina to dare to attack a major world power like itself. In return, Argentina was caught by surprise by the fierce British response to their invasion of the islands, and the conflict itself seriously affected the politics of both countries and their future relations.