<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/03/chilean-president-makes-historic-trip-to-south-pole-amid-antarctica-sovereignty-claim>
"Chile’s president Gabriel Boric has made a historic trip to the south pole to
reaffirm his country’s “claim to sovereignty” over its part of Antarctica, his
office said.
Boric is the first Latin American leader to reach the Earth’s southernmost
point, according to his office.
“This is a milestone for us,” Boric said, in footage broadcast by Chilean
television.
“It is the first time a Chilean president has come to the south pole and talked
about Chile’s Antarctic mission.”
Boric, accompanied by his defence and environment ministers, as well as three
military commanders, arrived at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a US
research base, at 8pm GMT, his office said.
The Chilean leader planned to spend about two hours at the US outpost, in one
of the planet’s most remote and hostile zones.
The trip “is a confirmation of our claim to sovereignty” over part of
Antarctica, he said.
During the 20th century, countries such as Chile, France, the US, Britain,
Argentina and Japan set up research stations in Antarctica, for scientific
research and to establish a presence in the forbidding region.
Since 1961, activities in the region have been governed by the Antarctic
Treaty, which seeks to shield the continent and its surrounding seas from
geopolitical rivalries.
The US state department says seven countries including Chile maintain
territorial claims in Antarctica, but “the United States and most other
countries do not recognise those claims”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
