THERESA May yesterday slapped down Argentina over claims a ‘No Deal’ Brexit will help them win the Falklands.

The PM’s official spokeswoman said there was no doubt Britain’s “relationships” with all of its overseas territories would remain in place after March 2019.

It followed incendiary remarks by Argentina’s Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

He suggested Buenos Aires would seek to exploit a No Deal to “enhance” its position as EU member states would no longer have to support the UK’s claim to the islands.

He said: “Our planning for Las Malvinas (Argentina’s name for the Falklands) is to have a negotiation that will enable stronger relations between the people on the islands and the people on the Continent.

“And we hope that the non-Brexit solution will enhance the possibility of that dialogue to be truly one with results.”

He added: “If you think member states (of the EU) would not sustain the Malvinas claim in favour of the UK, we are there … to talk, to negotiate, to see what would be the best solution for the people in the islands to be much more in touch with Argentina.”

He also reiterated Argentina’s position that the Falkland Islands should be ‘returned’ to the mainland.

The islands are recognised as a British overseas territory under the EU’s 2009 Lisbon Treaty.

The bloc’s Duty of Sincere Cooperation obliges member states to support each other on claims of sovereignty.

Theresa May is due to visit Argentinian President Mauricio Mauri next month at the G20 Summit – in the first visit by a British PM to the country since 2001.

The PM’s official spokeswoman insisted Mr Faurie had also spoken “very positively about our bilateral relationship”.

She said: “I think I would just say that the Falklands remain an overseas territory of the UK after we leave the EU - as will all our overseas territories.

“We are clear that all our overseas territories will retain their current relationship with the UK after we leave the EU.

“Obviously the PM will be in Argentina in the coming weeks so she will discuss a number of issues including the EU exit with foreign leaders there.”