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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   618 thread views

Transnational Thursday for June 5, 2025

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

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Another week, another humiliation for Britain.

https://thecritic.co.uk/exclusive-osborne-to-give-elgin-marbles-to-greece/

The Critic understands that George Osborne, Chairman of the British Museum, has agreed to give the Elgin Marbles to Greece.

The move is unlikely to be blocked by the Government since the Prime Minister has expressed several times his commitment “not to stand in the way” of a deal between the Greek government and the British Museum.

In order to give the Marbles to Athens permanently, the government would need to amend the British Museum Act 1963 which prevents the deaccession of items. But it is thought that Osborne’s plan to give them away on loan would side-step this requirement.

Since the Greek government claims legal ownership of the sculptures, it is extremely unlikely that they would ever return to Britain.

Spain has to be salivating at this point, not to mention Argentina. There's oil in the Falklands.

I am fine with returning art, but I would object to returning Gibraltar or the Falklands. They seem very different to me.

True, though there is a precedent in the recent handover of the Chagos islands.

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