Argentina and Chile in Antarctica: An analysis on the occasion of the bicentenary of the crossing of the Andes

The bicentenary of the crossing of the Andes by the Army of the Andes, which was led by Generals San Martin and O’Higgins and ended the long-lasting colonial rule over South America, is a good opportunity to reflect on the close relations between Chile and Argentina. 

Few countries can pride themselves on sharing common borders as extensive as ours. Although these borders have been a matter of dispute in the past, they now have become an instrument to build partnership and good-neighbourliness policies, more than ever before in the history of the two countries.

This integration policy started to consolidate with the advent of democracy in the two Southern cone countries, and today there is no doubt that Argentina and Chile are living one of the most promising moments in their bilateral relations. It is no coincidence that the good shape of bilateral relations is particularly evident with respect to the Antarctic area, over which there exist overlapping sovereignty claims that have been matters of dispute in the past.

The two countries have a long-lasting presence in Antarctica, an area to which they are linked through history, geography and a currently intense activity. Although the sovereignty claims of the two countries over certain areas of the Antarctic Peninsula are partially overlapping, since the 1940’s the two countries have mutually recognized their respective indisputable sovereignty rights over their claimed Antarctic territories. Through the joint declarations signed by Ruiz Moreno-Escudero Guzmán (1941), Bramuglia-Juliet Gómez (1947) and La Rosa-Vergara Donoso (1948), the two countries agreed to defer for the future any demarcation of borders.

Subsequently, the Antarctic Treaty (1959) was negotiated and executed by the countries as two of the key protagonists, freezing territorial disputes over Antarctica among the seven claiming States. Since then, Antarctica has been an area devoted to the consolidation of peace, international scientific cooperation and environmental protection.

It is in this context that Argentina and Chile work as major actors and active participants in the several fora of the Antarctic Treaty System. Moreover, the high-quality work carried out by the two countries in recent years in Antarctica is clear evidence of the highly positive evolution of their relationship. 

In addition to the natural and frequent cooperation among the different bases of the two countries, there is the Combined Antarctic Naval Patrol (PANC), launched by the Navies of the two countries 19 years ago. This activity contributes to improving navigation safety, environmental protection, and assistance to other Antarctic national programmes in areas adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula, an area where Argentina and CHile are jointly responsible for the Search and Rescue Service. Through joint patrolling, the two countries contribute their extensive experience in the region and their available resources, given the proximity of their bases and of the cities of Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, the closest and busiest “gateways” to Antarctica.

Within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty, in February 2016 Argentina and Chile resumed Antarctic inspections in foreign bases and carried out a joint exercise for the first time, which was repeated during the current 2017 season. To this end, the two countries created a cross-functional team with advisers on politics, logistics and environmental issues.

Within the framework of the Committee for the Preservation of Antarctic Living Sea Resources (CCRVMA), Argentina and Chile coordinate scientific work for the creation of a Protected Sea Area (PSA) in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula, a project that has raised great international interest. 

In order to streamline their increasing joint work, since 2012 the Antarctic departments of the two Foreign Ministries have been holding biannual political coordination meetings in the field of Antarctic matters, which has proven to be highly useful to consolidate bilateral relations and coordinate political positions for the main Antarctic fora. 

2016 was a very important year for the bilateral approach to Antarctic issues. In addition, within the framework of the “8th Binational Meeting of Ministers,” the two Foreign Ministers defined Antarctic cooperation as a strategic partnership. In this context, a “Memorandum of Understanding on Antarctic Scientific Cooperation” was signed for the first time between the Antarctic Institutes of the two countries, which heralds important new joint work. 

Given that Argentina and Chile are the closest countries to Antarctica and considering their historical connection with it, anything that happens there is of vital and strategic interest to the two nations. Therefore, we can only welcome the consolidation of our current Antarctic bilateral relationship with Chile, which is stronger today than ever before in our history.

Press Release No. 024/17

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