Chilean president and protection chief have visited a US base throughout a historic South Pole journey
Chilean President Gabriel Boric has made historical past as the primary Latin American chief to go to the South Pole, reaffirming Chile’s sovereignty claims over a part of Antarctica.
Accompanied by Protection Minister Maya Fernandez, Atmosphere Minister Maisa Rojas, and senior navy officers, President Boric launched into the journey on January 2, 2025, departing from Punta Arenas in southern Chile aboard a Hercules C-130 navy transport airplane. His first cease was Chile’s analysis station on Union Glacier earlier than continuing to the South Pole.
Later that day, the delegation visited america’ Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, the place they spent roughly two hours assembly researchers and observing ongoing scientific initiatives. The presidential workplace described the go to as occurring “at an necessary second for Chile’s scientific endeavors within the area.”
Llegar al Polo Sur, un orgullo para Chile. Seguimos trabajando para que la Antártica siga siendo un continente de ciencia y paz. pic.twitter.com/4AlwC8YgK8
— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) January 4, 2025
“This can be a milestone for us,” Boric mentioned in footage broadcast by Chilean tv. “It’s the first time a Chilean president has come to the South Pole and talked about Chile’s Antarctic mission.”
Boric additionally declared that the go to was “a affirmation of our declare to sovereignty” over a part of the continent.
In the course of the twentieth century, a number of international locations, together with Russia, america, Britain, France, Argentina, and Japan, established analysis stations in Antarctica to assist scientific research and keep a presence within the distant area. Since 1961, the Antarctic Treaty has ruled actions on the continent and its surrounding seas, designating the area as a scientific protect whereas prohibiting navy operations to forestall geopolitical tensions.
Chile has maintained a steady presence in Antarctica for many years, working a number of analysis stations and actively taking part within the Antarctic Treaty System. Traditionally, its analysis efforts have been concentrated in northern Antarctica. Nonetheless, in accordance with an announcement from the presidency, Chile now goals to broaden its scientific endeavors to the Bellingshausen and Weddell Seas.
Though seven international locations, together with Chile, have territorial claims in Antarctica, the US State Division maintains that “america and most different international locations don’t acknowledge these claims.”
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