Chilean deputies have expressed strong opposition to recent statements made by Rear Admiral Hernán Montero, head of Argentina's Naval Hydrography Service, who asserted that the mouth of the Strait of Magellan belongs to his country.
According to reports from biobiochile.cl, the Argentine high-ranking officer's remarks were broadcast on the podcast 'OID MORTALES.' During the program, Montero argued that while the Strait is an international channel under Chilean maritime jurisdiction, a specific area within it is not.
“The mouth of Magellan is Argentine. The mouth connecting Cabo Vírgenes to Punta Dúngenes, and from there moving east, is Argentine,” the Argentine official claimed, according to the source.
Lawmaker Juan Carlos Beltrán, representing the RN party, described these claims as concerning and a disregard for existing international treaties. Beltrán emphasized that Chilean sovereignty over the territory is clear and leaves no room for interpretation.
Similarly, Deputy Daniel Valenzuela criticized the remarks, noting they do nothing to foster understanding between the two nations. The legislator pointed out that the borders between Chile and Argentina are well-defined and should not be subject to reinterpretation by foreign officials.
Parliamentary reaction and formal complaints to Foreign Affairs
Deputy Ericka Ñanco, representing the Frente Amplio party, called the situation grave, citing a disregard for historical agreements. Ñanco reminded the public that these statements violate the terms set forth in the Boundary Treaty of 1881 and the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984.
“This is not only serious, but it also disregards what was agreed upon in the Boundary Treaty of 1881, particularly in Articles 2 and 3,” the lawmaker asserted. In response, Ñanco announced that a formal request would be sent to the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand a clear defense of national sovereignty.
Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the validity of the treaties that grant full sovereignty of the Strait to the Republic of Chile. The Ministry specifically cited Article 10 of the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
This document establishes that the boundary between the two nations follows a straight line connecting the Dungeness Ex-Beacon Landmark with the Cabo del Espíritu Santo Landmark I. The legal text also guarantees free navigation and the neutralization of the Strait in perpetuity.