Diplomatic protest announced
Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it will send a formal protest note to Argentina over statements made by the head of the Argentine Air Force General Staff, Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde, regarding sovereignty over the Strait of Magallanes. The announcement came after Valverde's remarks during an interview on the YouTube program La Fábrica del Podcast, where he described the strait, the south, and the Drake Passage as Argentine sovereignty and a 'bioceanic key' between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.[S1][S2][S3]
The Chilean Foreign Ministry's decision follows a day of strong reactions from Chilean authorities. Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, speaking from Vietnam on an official visit, reiterated that Chile's sovereignty over the entire strait is indisputable and based on the treaties of 1881 and 1984 signed by both countries. He also made a 'severe call' for foreign authorities to be responsible with their statements and not confuse their citizens, emphasizing that the strait is 'indisputably Chilean'.[S1][S4][S6]
Chilean officials reject remarks
Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado also criticized Valverde's comments, stating that the entire strait is indisputably Chilean and that it is striking that such declarations arise from time to time, as there is nothing to discuss regarding sovereignty. He noted that it would be up to the Foreign Ministry to evaluate the diplomatic actions to follow, which ultimately resulted in the formal protest.[S1][S3][S6]
The controversy sparked criticism from Chilean lawmakers across different sectors, who demanded a formal response from the government. Valverde, in his interview, had also highlighted the 'excellent' military relationship with Chile, recalling that on August 10 he invited the commander in chief of the Chilean Air Force to a ceremony, where Chilean aviation school cadets marched alongside their Argentine counterparts. He said past issues, such as the Malvinas, are 'superado' (overcome) and that both countries should work in a coordinated manner in the southern hemisphere.[S1][S2][S3]
Treaties underpin Chile's claim
Chile's position is based on the Boundary Treaty of 1881, which established the territorial framework in the southern zone, and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984, signed after the bilateral crisis of 1978 with mediation by the Holy See. The 1984 treaty reaffirmed the territorial framework and established guarantees to avoid new controversies, including provisions related to navigation through the strait.[S1][S5]
The Chilean Foreign Ministry maintains that there is no current controversy over the sovereignty of the strait that could allow an interpretation that it belongs to Argentina. This incident follows a similar controversy in April, when the head of Argentina's Naval Hydrographic Service, Rear Admiral Hernán Montero, made remarks about the 'mouth' of the strait, which also caused concern in Chile.[S5]
