MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile reinforcing its military presence in Magallanes Region and Antarctica

Minister Barros said defense requires planning and Chile must have the necessary capacities to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of its people.

Chile announced the reinforcement of its military capacities in the Magallanes Region, extreme south of the country with a plan that includes renewal of aircraft, modernization of armored vehicles, increased vigilance and presence in the austral territory and Antarctica, updating of military strategy based on experiences from the current war scenarios in Europe and Middle East.

The announcement was made by Defense minister Fernando Barros, at the base of Chabunco, next to Punta Arenas, together with the commanders of all services. Chabunco is headquarters and seat of the Fourth Chilean Air Force Brigade, FACH, with jurisdiction over southern Patagonia and protection of bases in Chilean Antarctica.

The announcement was done at a very sensitive moment for relations between Chile and Argentina, following repeated statements from Argentine nationalist groups during August and September, regarding alleged ‘shared sovereignty’ over the Magellan Strait, straining bilateral relations.

Minister Barros insisted that defense requires planning and Chile must have the necessary capacities to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of its people.

Chilean Defense said that strategic planning means replacing in Punta Arenas the current F-5 fighter jets by fourth or fifth generation aircraft, the renewal of the helicopter fleet plus strategic air transport, essential for Antarctica missions, and for the Navy long range maritime patrolling with air coverage. The Army will see the refurbish of its Leopard 1 tanks and remote control modern warfare.

Some land bases will be reformed to have a permanent presence and the strategic bases in Chilean Antarctica are to have increased air and maritime connections, confirming a greater presence form the country.

Apparently Chilean Defense has been working on these plans for some time and with a 2043 horizon, but not only with a military objective, but rather with “a standing Chilean logistics responsibility regarding the Magellan Strait and Antarctica”.

All of this erupted when Argentine head of Air Force Chief of Staff Gustavo Javier Valverde made some comments regarding the Magellan Strait that generated an immediate reaction from Chile, Taking advantage of the calendar, an anniversary of the possession of the Strait by Chile in September 1843, the Chilean vice-president, members of the Senate’s blocks plus Magallanes joined in a tour de force reaffirming sole and complete Chilean sovereignty of the Magellan Strait.

Likewise in a visit to Argentina, and again in Chile, president Juan Antonio Kast said that Argentina “does not have and will never have”, sovereignty over the Magellan Strait because it has been clearly judged, and agreed, by treaties with Argentina.

And if this was not enough five F-16 from the northern FACH base of Los Condores in Iquique, next to Peru flew non-stop with an early warning aircraft AEW, and a Stratotanker KC-135 to refuel fighter jets in flight to Magallanes Region, for an air display over Punta Arenas. Apparently the F-16 will remain a couple of weeks in the extreme south of Chile.

Chile’s FACH has proven experience with the Stratotanker KC-135 since last April when the Air and Space Show in Santiago, FIDAE, it successfully refueled two F-35A Lightning from US Air Force in their journey from Florida to Chile for the show.

Summing up, according to Chilean sources the challenge for the administration of president Kast is to advance with the military modernization while keeping open, friendly cooperation channels with Argentina.

The Kast message is clear: Magallanes Region, the Strait and its projection to Antarctica are a Defense strategic planning priority for Chile, and with the funds needed or expected to be invested, allegedly having the necessary congressional support.