Britain has formally communicated to the United States that sovereignty over the Falkland Islands rests with the United Kingdom, according to official statements.

The diplomatic communication comes amid ongoing international discussions regarding the status of the South Atlantic territory, which has been a point of contention between Britain and Argentina for decades.

The Falkland Islands, located approximately 300 miles east of Argentina's coast, have been under British administration since 1833. Argentina has consistently claimed sovereignty over the islands, which it calls the Malvinas.

The current diplomatic exchange appears to be generating more attention within the UK than in the United States, reflecting the different levels of domestic interest in the territorial dispute between the two nations.

The sovereignty question gained international prominence during the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina, which resulted in British victory and continued UK administration of the islands. The islands' approximately 3,500 residents voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum.