Creating a sovereign precedent

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has set a new precedent by asserting his claim to Antarctica with a trip to the icy region.

In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries with the main content being that only scientific research is allowed and all military actions are completely banned in Antarctica. Up to now, 54 countries in the world have joined the Antarctic Treaty. Chile, along with the US, UK, France, Japan and Argentina, are the 6 countries with their own research stations in Antarctica. The issue of national sovereignty is not raised in the above treaty.

Photo of Gabriel Boric in Antarctica last week

Mr. Boric set a new precedent when he personally visited Antarctica and established Chile's sovereignty over Antarctica. To date, Mr. Boric is the first head of state in the world to visit Antarctica and also affirmed Chile's sovereignty over Antarctica.

Of the six countries that currently have research stations in Antarctica, Chile and Argentina are geographically closest to the South Pole. This geographical proximity played a decisive role in Mr. Boric's decision to establish Chile's sovereignty in Antarctica. Global climate change is causing the seemingly eternal ice to gradually melt. Science, engineering and technology development has made the exploration and exploitation of abundant natural resources in both the Arctic and Antarctica more feasible and promising. The competition between many partners in the world for control of territory in the Arctic and Antarctica has become more fierce.

Mr. Boric is embracing this trend for Chile and intends to stay ahead of other partners to the extent possible and at a time when it is still possible to stay ahead. The inevitable consequence is that not only scientific research but also national sovereignty will become more active in Antarctica, turning this cold continent into a new geopolitical hotspot.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tao-tien-le-chu-quyen-185250107214840371.htm