Regional Geopolitics
The past military conflicts, such as the Pacific War, have left a deep mark on the collective memory of both countries, and diplomatic relations between Argentina and Chile have developed over many years with certain mutual distrusts because in each country, history has been taught presenting the neighbor as expansionist and territory usurper. Therefore, a series of significant events that took place this year once again highlight the historical problems of these bordering countries and generate new setbacks in the bilateral relations of both nations.
To begin with, on March 15, 2024, during a meeting held by both embassies at the Cristo Redentor international complex, also known as Los Libertadores Pass, both delegations, one Chilean and the other Argentine, toured the Integrated Control Area (ACI), where officials in charge of border controls from Customs and Immigration work, along with inspectors from Chile's Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG). There, Argentine ambassador Jorge Faurie, in front of all the officials from the Chilean foreign ministry, made some statements that were at least disrespectful “My country (Argentina) was already an agricultural power while you were just learning to eat.”
Additionally, Faurie did not greet the presidential delegate of Los Andes in the ACI Meeting Room, Cristian Aravena Reyes, and interrupted him when he wanted to take the floor to introduce himself, loudly stating “Our Government does not recognize such position and does not attribute any importance or validity to it.”
Seeing the Chilean conglomerate's refusal, the ambassador became agitated to the point of raising his voice and banging the table, confronting the representative of Chile’s Border and Boundary Directorate, Pedro Pablo Silva, asserting that “he had years of experience and they were not going to come and tell him stories.”
So much discontent arose that his controversial comments ended in formal complaints to the Chilean foreign ministry, which submitted four official letters denouncing the “negative attitude” of the Argentine diplomat. Additionally, Senator Iván Moreira of the ultra-conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI) stated that “the Argentine ambassador was very impertinent” and that “we know the style of Javier Milei, but that cannot be a permanent strategy of Argentina in misunderstandings or rather to generate, through foreign policy, actions that benefit internal politics.” Congressman Stephan Schubert of the far-right Republicans party echoed these statements and requested that “the ambassador should apologize as Chilean authorities must be respected, as well as our people.”
Later, on April 29, 2024, the Argentine Navy inaugurated the Surveillance and Maritime Traffic Control Post Hito 1, in Tierra del Fuego at the border dividing the country from Chile in the heart of Patagonia. However, some solar panels used to provide electricity extended three meters into Chilean territory, causing discomfort in the Chilean government, which formally complained to the Argentine foreign ministry. It is also worth mentioning that these panels were donated by the technology company Mirgor, part of whose share capital belongs to Nicolás Caputo, cousin of the Minister of Economy, Luis Toto Caputo.
In light of this incident, Chile's concern is that the post at Hito 1 aims to control navigation through the Strait of Magellan, which is under full Chilean sovereignty, as they pointed out that until the late 1990s, the post was further south (at the Magellan lighthouse, 650 meters from its current location) and is now right at the mouth of the strait. They supported this argument, among other things, by decree 457 issued by Argentina in 2021, which explains that it is essential to continue working towards joint control of the Strait of Magellan, to which Chile responded with a diplomatic note since the strait only belongs to Chile, but Argentina did not revoke what was said.
Argentina, for its part, emphasizes that this post aims to control navigation in the Atlantic Ocean, noting that all vessels entering or leaving the Strait of Magellan must navigate through Argentine territorial waters.
This conflict regarding the passage and control of the Strait of Magellan lies in the treaties signed by the Republics of Chile and Argentina in 1881 and 1984, which definitively established Chile's dominion over the Strait of Magellan; however, this dominion was subject to certain limitations regarding free navigation through the Strait, its neutralization, and the prohibition of fortifying its coasts.
Chile, as the sovereign nation over the Strait, should refrain from restricting free navigation within it as much as possible. Conversely, Argentina, which has no coastline on the Strait but only access to its eastern waters, should also refrain from restricting the free passage of vessels moving from the Atlantic to the Strait or vice versa.
Due to the inaction and minimization of the La Libertad Avanza (LLA) government, President Boric publicly expressed his stance on the matter. “Borders are not something that can have ambiguities” because “it is a basic principle of respect between countries.” “Therefore, you must remove those solar panels promptly, or we will do it ourselves,” he asserted.
The relationship between the governments of Presidents Boric and Milei is cold, marked by ideological differences. Before being elected president in July 2023, Milei visited Santiago de Chile and attacked the local leader: “Just as we hope to eliminate the Kirchnerist plague [...] I hope you have the fortune and the stature to also remove this impoverisher Boric.” He said this to his audience then.
Thus, already in office, on August 8 of this year, President Milei traveled to Chile to attend the commemorative event of the first TCF (Trillion Cubic Feet) of natural gas transported from Argentina to Chile through the gas pipeline and to meet with various companies seeking investments for Argentina. Casa Rosada made efforts for a protocol greeting between Boric and Milei, but it did not prosper; the Chilean president excused himself by saying he had to resolve issues on his agenda.
As a final significant act, on August 29, 2024, Chilean Armed Forces reported detecting an aircraft in the Strait of Magellan. According to data from the Chilean Ministry of Defense, approximately three thousand feet between Mount Aymond and the Strait of Magellan raised this alert for airspace violation. In response, two F-5 aircraft of the Chilean Air Force (FACh) were authorized to take off from Chabunco Airbase in Punta Arenas to conduct surveillance in the area, without finding any aircraft.
Chilean Defense Minister Maya Fernández Allende mentioned that the trans-Andean country received an alert for unidentified air traffic in the eastern area of the Strait of Magellan, south of its territory, which should have originated from Argentina, which was denied by Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri, suggesting it could be an English plane coming from or near the Falkland Islands.
It is essential to address issues with Chile such as:
· The lack of precision in the location of some reference points established in border treaties, creating uncertainty over the exact course of the border in certain mountainous areas, which could lead to conflicts over access to natural resources, such as mineral deposits or water sources.
· The glacial region, called Campo de Hielo Norte, located in the Andes Mountains, poses difficulties for its delimitation, which is crucial for defining each country's rights over water resources, the so-called white gold.
· The way in which the media in both countries cover news related to bilateral relations significantly influences public perception.
· The economic interests of both countries, especially in trade and energy, can generate tensions. Both seek exploitation, commercialization, and predominance in the market with similar products and raw materials.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to maintain cordial diplomatic relations due to the significant number of common immigrants, approximately 2 million Chileans living in Argentina and around 50,000 Argentines living in Chile, due to the extensive territorial communication of these countries, with their common border being the longest in both cases. It is also important to note the significance of commercial exchange between both countries and the treaties signed that require willingness and cooperation.
Clearly, there are frictions to smooth over and great suspicion regarding the Antarctic treaty, which pauses claims from both Chile and Argentina on the white continent, both overlapping, thus necessitating dialogue. Given that mutual distrust continues to be an obstacle to strengthening bilateral ties, which are essential for the well-being of both nations.
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