MOD withheld Falkland invasion file, FOI not upheld

Secretary of State for Defence (Ministry of Defence)

• Date 26 March 2026
• Sector Central government
• Decision(s) FOI 23: Not upheld, FOI 24: Not upheld The complainant submitted a request to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeking a copy of the file DEFE 31/243, 'Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO): the planning for and timing of the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands'. The MOD withheld the requested file on the basis of sections 23(1) (security bodies) and 24(1) (national security) (cited in the alternative), 26(1)(a) and (b) (defence), and 27(1)(a) and (d) (international relations). The Commissioner’s decision is that the Commissioner has concluded that the requested file is exempt from disclosure on the basis of section 23(1) or section 24(1) of FOIA.