However, the entire southern region of America, with its coasts

[monira khatun]

From the beginning of the 16th century and throughout most of the same century, only navigators in the service of Spain navigated the maritime routes along the South American coast, advancing southward in search of an interoceanic passage. This progress led to the discovery of the Falkland Islands by members of Magellan's expedition in 1520. From that moment on, they were recorded on European cartography under various names and remained within the areas under the effective control of the Spanish authorities. During the 17th century, the Falkland Islands were sighted by navigators from other nations who ventured into Spanish dominions, risking the reaction and protests that Spain would mount whenever it learned of such expeditions.
Seas, and islands, remained unquestionably preserved under Spanish special lead sovereignty through the various treaties signed during this period, such as the "American" Treaty of 1670 between Spain and England. The Peace of Utrecht, signed in 1713, secured the integrity of Spain's possessions in South America and confirmed its exclusive right to navigation in the South Atlantic. England accepted these clauses as a signatory to the Utrecht Agreements and subsequent 17th-century treaties that ratified them. However, towards the middle of this century, the Falkland Islands began to attract interest from Great Britain and France, which aspired to a settlement strategically located across the Strait of Magellan.

In 1749, Spain learned of a British plan to establish a colony in the Falkland Islands and strongly protested to the British government, which subsequently abandoned the plan.