A very cold start: Chilean president visits Antarctica to bolster claims

The Chilean president visited Antarctica on Friday in an attempt to strengthen his country’s territorial claims to part of Antarctica, as competition in the region grows gradually.

Gabriel Buric, President, and a delegation of officials visited the Amundsen-Scott Antarctic Station, an American research base; First time his office He saidthat the Latin American president in office has set foot on the frozen continent.

Mr. Buric described the flight as a “milestone” and “a confirmation of our claim to sovereignty over this space.”

At the other end of the world, there is the North Pole Drawn notice With climate change making the region more important for global trade, opening access to its natural resources and intensifying military competition there. By contrast, Antarctica has remained relatively under the radar.

But more than a century after explorers raced to plant flags in the frozen Arctic desert, countries are once again beginning to compete openly for influence in the region.

The area is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which States That “Antarctica should be used for peaceful purposes only.” The Cold War-era charter and subsequent agreements aimed to make Antarctica a military-free zone and manage competing territorial claims.

Over the decades, the regime has largely succeeded in establishing an international consensus for the region, according to the 2023 plan a report From the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

Many countries have old or new facilities in Antarctica to conduct scientific research, and some of them can also be used to explore the strategic and commercial potential of the region. Competition to do so quietly has intensified in recent years, and appears likely to continue to do so, according to the report.

Antarctica’s harsh environment and treaty system have restricted access to its resources, but the region has a rich marine environment and potential reserves of oil, gas and minerals. Arid regions are also a good place for countries to put technology into military applications.

Russia has more Efforts to build monitoring stations for GLONASS, its version of the Global Positioning System, which has Experts It also says that military use. at least three Russian stations were already operating in Antarctica in 2015.

China announced in 2023 Plans To build new space stations in Antarctica, another project with potential military applications.

The treaty bans mining in the area, and protects small reserves of iron ore, coal and chromium. Estimates vary widely, but the area could also contain vast reserves of oil and natural gas. Much to the dismay of environmentalists, China and Russia are doing just that tracking Easing restrictions on krill fishing.

Facets The treaty, which includes environmental protection, will be subject to review in 2048, but could be undermined before then.

Some signatories to the Antarctic Treaty have also made territorial claims – a number of which overlap – while others do not recognize the territorial claims of other countries. Chile is one of the few countries that has claims to the territory, and has established it A permanent settlement called Villa Las Estrellas.

Chile sought to strengthen its territorial claims in May 2024, holding a meeting with Antarctic defense officials as a symbol of sovereignty amid… tension Regarding announced Russian geological surveys in the Weddell Sea, an Antarctic region off the southern tip of South America.

Simon Romero Contributed to reports.