SIR – Colonel Tim Collins (News Review, March 29) is probably correct in his assessment of the relative qualities of the Argentine and British forces, regarding possible hostilities in the Falklands.

However, I believe he risks ignoring the axiom: never underestimate your enemy. The qualitative balance may well be on the side of the British, but a breakdown of the Type 45 destroyer or a blocked runway at Mount Pleasant airfield could easily swing the advantage in favour of the Argentines, whose courage is not in doubt.

The Argentines need to be made aware that an attack on our territory would leave the British forces no option but to use cruise missiles against mainland targets. That should make their eyes water.

Colin Cummings

Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire SIR – Col Tim Collins gives a fair assessment of the risks of an attack from Argentina, but he misses the real point of Russia’s “lending” old bombers to them.

Judging from Vladimir Putin’s recent actions, he is determined to make as much mischief as he can to his own advantage. When he has settled the matter of the Baltic States he could very well decide to widen Russia’s sphere of influence in the South Atlantic by having Argentina as a base from which to operate. We are told that there are oil deposits to be exploited. Why else would Mr Putin try to get an ally there?

Dr Robert Close

Norwich SIR – Spending 2 per cent of GDP in perpetuity to retain a South Atlantic sheep station is nonsense. Let’s discuss the military budget only after we have a foreign policy that furthers our national interest.

In this respect we are shackled by membership of the unwieldy Nato and EU, fit only in foreign policy matters to remain a plaything of America.

Our interventions – in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya – have generated chaos rather than peace. It is time to distance ourselves from Washington’s ideologically driven globalism.

Yugo Kovach

Winterborne Houghton, Dorset SIR – The Prime Minister has initiated a programme replacing frigates, but this will not be completed for some years and we will still be left with fewer than 20 surface warships of which, at any one time, several are out of commission for refits.

Is a navy of this size sufficient to defend an island nation with one of the longest coast lines in Europe, numerous overseas trading links and huge assets in the North Sea?

As a matter of priority the surface fleet should be rebuilt to comprise at least 30 frigates and destroyers. There should also be no further cuts to the Army or the Royal Air Force; they must be allowed to rebuild and retrain for the future after the long and exhausting war in Afghanistan.

Ted Shorter

Tonbridge, Kent SIR – The most disappointing aspect of the Falklands affair is that we are virtually on our own. I can’t think of one country that would now vote for us in the United Nations on this issue.

Argentine claims to sovereignty – based on a small settlement by “colonists” from Buenos Aires, then part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata – are no more valid than claims by other members of the United Provinces, or by France, which established the first settlement on the islands.

Adrian Simmonds

Enfield, Middlesex SIR – We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Argentina. The economy is in meltdown, there is 40 per cent inflation and the ATM machines are empty.

The friendly locals complain about corruption and despise the political classes. They say the posturing by President Cristina Kirchner over the Falklands is a tactic to distract the population from its domestic problems.

While we were there Mrs Kirchner’s new 50 peso note went into circulation. One side of the note features a map of “Las Malvinas”. It’s a shame there were none in the cash machines.

Martin Elliott

Gloucester