Argentina clarifies Strait of Magellan position following Chilean protests

The Argentine foreign ministry issued a communiqué on Tuesday stating its position on the Strait of Magellan after an Argentine general raised questions of sovereignty over the sea route that sparked protests from Chilean authorities. In the statement published on social media, the foreign ministry stated that Argentina’s position regarding the southern passage remains the one established by the two treaties that recognize Chile’s sovereignty over the strait.  The two treaties are the 1881 Boundary Treaty and the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The former established perpetual neutrality and freedom of navigation for the flags of all nations, including British vessels, an issue that has always been contentious for Argentina.  The 1984 agreement, in which Pope John Paul II played a mediating role following the military tensions between the Chilean and Argentine dictatorships, ratified and reaffirmed the existing territorial framework, recognizing Chile’s absolute sovereignty over the strait.  The foreign ministry stressed that both instruments “remain fully in force” and are considered “definitive” by Argentina. The communiqué did not directly mention Valverde or apologize for his comments but rather emphasized the “strategic importance” of Argentina’s southern interests, including the Malvinas issue, the South Atlantic, and Antarctica. The statement went on to call these regions areas of “growing importance because of their strategic natural resources, maritime routes, and role in global supply chains.” Quirno’s ministry concluded by reaffirming Argentina’s “commitment to its bilateral relationship with Chile” and calling for “issues of common interest to be addressed through established institutional channels.”  The remarks and the protests Air Force chief Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde sparked the controversy during a Sunday interview on streaming program La Fábrica de Podcast.  In that interview, he referred to “Magallanes, the south, and the Drake” as matters of “sovereignty” and argued that Argentina should maintain a presence in the area because it represents a strategic “bioceanic key” linking the Atlantic and Pacific.  His comments were interpreted in Chile as questioning its sovereignty over the strait. Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna said Santiago would send a formal diplomatic note to Buenos Aires, stressing that Chilean sovereignty over the entire Strait of Magellan is “indisputable” and is based on the two treaties. Chilean Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado also rejected the remarks, while lawmakers called for a firm response. Editorial disclaimer: Although the UK refers to the territory as the “Falkland Islands,” Argentina strongly contests this name. The Buenos Aires Herald uses “Malvinas” to refer to the islands. Cover phot credit: Wikimedia