HMS York, a type 42-destroyer, was on a “tight leash” patrolling the seas around the islands in response to rising tensions over British firms oil explorations activities near the Falklands. Argentina has demanded a halt to “illegal” oil drilling around the Falkands and on Wednesday imposed a permit system on ships passed from its ports to the island. Gordon Brown, the prime minister, issued an explicit warning to the Argentinian government that the South Atlantic show of force – which also included a survey vessel backed up by a 1,000-strong military detachment on land – would respond to any disruption of the Falklands links to the outside world.