MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Senate reaffirms Magellan Strait sovereignty and support for Punta Arenas to trade with the world

The transversal delegation of five Senators that reaffirmed exclusive, complete sovereignty of the Magellan Strait

A delegation from the Chilean Senate was in Punta Arenas to subscribe a declaration reaffirming Chilean exclusive sovereignty over the Magellan Strait and committing extra funds for its maintenance and reinforcement of strategic capacities when discussing the 2027 national budget. Likewise they supported the right of the people from the Magallanes Region to freely trade with whoever they decide in the world.

 ”The visit this week was in the framework of the 183rd anniversary of Chile’s possession of the Magellan Strait (21 September 1843) and the transversal delegation (members from the main political parties’ blocks), included, the President of the Chilean Senate Paulina Nu;ez, and her peers Rodolfo Carter, Ximena Ordenes, Gaston Saavedra and Karim Bianchi, underlining the compliance of the international treaties in force.

“…the Magellan Strait is part of the national territory and is under Chile’s control and exclusive sovereignty,” and Chile’s management and protection is in the framework of its international obligations.

The document also points out that the navigation and trade regime is established by the valid enforced treaties such as the 1881 Boundary Treaty between Argentina and Chile and the Peace and Friendship Treaty from 1984. Likewise in this context the document defends the right of the people from Punta Arenas and the Magallanes Region to develop their commercial activities freely and expeditiously.

The president of the Senate, Paulina Nu;ez reaffirmed the transversal character of the declaration, and added it was a clear signal of unity from the State institutions emphasizing that as president of the Senate together with colleagues “we have come to ratify not only the control and exclusive sovereignty of Chile over the Magellan Strait but also to recall that the inhabitants of Punta Arenas and the austral zone have the right to trade freely with the world”, She added “this right does not admit interpretations which denaturalize the established regime in the Treaties, or delays in their compliance”.

“International treaties are above any declaration or media release. As members of the State our responsibility is to recall and ratify the treaties we have with Argentina, sovereignty is not only a declaration it must be protected every day with decisions, political signals and an effective presence of the State”.

The Chilean Senators recalled that the 1881 Boundaries Treaty established the ‘neutralization’ of the Magellan Strait and the free navigation for the flags of all world nations. And the Peace and Friendship Treaty from 1984 confirmed such a regime and established specific obligations as to the maritime transit.

Regarding the Treaties, the Senators said they constitute an essential condition for the rule of the law and legal certainty and the good relation between Chile and Argentina, and in particular reaffirmed their intention of reinforcing cooperation and good neighborhood on the basis of the compliance of the commitments agreed by both countries.

Finally Senators anticipated that when the discussion of the National Budget 2027 they will promote a greater attention to the needs of the austral zone including the reinforcement of the necessary capacities for the vigilance and protection of sovereign spaces, security and freedom of navigation, national connectivity and the normal development of maritime trade.