Strait of Magellan Summit between the Presidents of Chile and Argentina

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast met with Argentinian President Javier Milei yesterday at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, the capital of Chile.

In the joint statement published by the governments of the two countries, it was stated that the meeting was held in order to resolve the tension that started when Argentine Air Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Gustavo Valverde, claimed that Argentina had sovereign rights over the Strait of Magellan under Chilean control.

The statement said, "Both heads of state agreed that the legal regime of the Strait of Magellan is determined by the 1881 Border Treaty and the 1984 Peace and Friendship Treaty, which are in full force and final for both states, and that these texts establish Chile's sovereignty over the entire strait." The statement was included.

Additionally, in the statement, it was noted that in response to Argentina's recognition of Chilean sovereignty over the strait, Chilean President Kast reiterated his country's traditional support for Argentina's sovereign rights over the Falklands (Malvinas), South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas.