Q&A · 2:19:02-2:20:39

A British regime-change attempt after the Falklands War

A post-Falklands counterfactual weighs the difficulty of securing American backing against the different consequences of a leadership raid and occupation.

Question

What if Margaret Thatcher had pursued regime change in Argentina after the Falklands War?

Short answer

American backing is treated as unavailable. A successful special-forces raid is considered more plausible than occupation and could encourage similar operations elsewhere.

Notes

In this counterfactual, Britain would need American backing for regime change in Argentina, and obtaining it is treated as a non-starter. Enforcing the outcome would present another problem. A special-forces operation supported by air attack to capture the junta's leaders is considered more plausible than invasion and occupation, but success is conditional. If such a raid succeeded, it could encourage other major powers to attempt similar operations against dictatorships.