Prince William's military deployment to the Falkland Islands this week has roused historic tensions between Britain and Argentina over the disputed territory.

The young heir is heading to the South Atlantic archipelago to complete a six-week training mission as a search and rescue pilot with Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF).

William's visit comes as both nations prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, Argentina's failed effort to take the islands back from Britain.

It's been nearly three decades since the conflict and residual animosity still exists between the two nations who both lay claim to the cluster of islands.

Argentina has criticized the timing of Prince William's mission, reportedly accusing Britain of sending the 29-year-old "in the uniform of a conquistador," or conqueror.

Complicating matters, Britain has also said it plans to send the HMS Dauntless, an advanced warship, to the South Atlantic to replace another boat on patrol. Argentina and many international onlookers have interpreted the move as a show of force.

Intentional or not, some argue that it's poor optics to send William and a destroyer to the Falklands on the anniversary of a war that resulted in more than 800 deaths and an embarrassing defeat for Argentina's military junta.

"I wouldn't say it's a provocation but it has the wrong tone to it," said Viviana Patroni, an associate social sciences professor at Toronto's York University.

She notes that the deployment of Prince William, also known as Flight Lieutenant William Wales, may cause further acrimony.

"The UN has continued to call for some sort of negotiation. Sending this ship is not really conducive to that," said Patroni, who specializes in Latin America studies.

Though the United Nations has issued a resolution calling upon the two countries to work out their differences, that request has proved fruitless.

Britain's David Cameron once pledged to never negotiate the sovereignty of the Falklands, as long as the islanders wish to remain British.

Deployment part of 'normal' rotation

For its part, the Royal Air Force has called Prince William's visit a routine deployment.

"This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales training and career progression," an RAF spokesperson wrote in an email.

Prince William won't be completing any ceremonial duties while he's in the Falklands, the air force representative noted.

The email indicated that William is going to be part of a crew comprising four RAF personnel during the mission, which runs from February into March.

According to the RAF, all of their search and rescue pilots routinely deploy to the Falkland Islands on a rolling basis as part of their training.

The RAF's search and rescue team in the Falklands has two helicopters, one of which is on permanent 24-hour standby.

Still, the Royal Air Force itself conjures up bad memories for some Argentinians who remember how the agency played a large part in the 1982 war.

William's uncle Prince Andrew contributed to the campaign by piloting a Sea King helicopter.

Coincidentally, Prince William was born in June of that year, the same month Argentina surrendered.

Relations between the two countries began to fray rapidly last year when Britain began drilling for oil in waters near the Falklands, about 460 kilometres east of Argentina.

It's unclear how much oil is in the area or how commercially viable it is but the British drilling operation was enough to rankle Argentine president Cristina Fernandez, who charged that the U.K. was taking her country's resources.

Biting back, Fernandez has asked major South American ports such as Brazil and Uruguay to turn away any ships flying the Falklands flag.

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty to the Falklands, which it recognizes as the Islas Malvinas, with the argument that other Spanish colonies have kept their offshore islands. For instance, Chile has the Juan Fernandez Islands and Ecuador has the Galapagos.

"This is a very delicate issue in Argentina, it has always been," said Patroni.

She notes that Argentina has made no attempts to reassert its sovereignty through aggressive military action since the war. Right now, she said it's mainly the impending arrival of a prince and a warship that has roiled Argentina.

"Why send an heir to the throne in a military uniform?" she said. "That's what the government of Argentina has really reacted against."