Chile and Argentina settle Strait of Magellan tensions after generals confusion

The Chilean Defense Ministry said that tensions with Argentina over the Strait of Magellan had been “settled” following comments from the head of the Argentine Air Force, who suggested that his country had to maintain a presence along the sea route to protect its “sovereignty.” Chile had threatened to send a formal protest letter to Argentina after Air Force chief Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde made the comments during an interview that aired on Sunday. The Chilean Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Argentine Defense Minister Carlos Alberto Presti — an active lieutenant general — called his Chilean counterpart, Fernando Barros Tocornal, on Wednesday evening to clarify Valverde’s comments. “Presti attributed those comments to confusion and sloppiness, stating that his country’s high-ranking air force officer is familiar with the applicable laws, treaties, and court rulings on the matter and that there is no dispute that the Strait of Magellan belongs to Chile,” the Chilean Defense Ministry said. The communiqué added that Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and Valverde will also call their Chilean counterparts to make amends. Minister Barros Tocornal thanked Presti for the Argentine government’s readiness to clarify the situation and “agreed with Minister Presti to consider the incident settled.” The controversial comments Valverde had told La Fábrica del Podcast that the Strait of Magellan, the southern tip of the continent, and the Drake Passage — which is partially under the jurisdiction of Argentina, Chile and the Antarctic Treaty System — are all part of Argentina’s “sovereignty,” that the country must protect. “We have to maintain presence there because it is a bi-oceanic key, Atlantic to Pacific,” he said. On Monday, Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna affirmed his office would send a formal protest letter to the Argentine government and said that “Chile’s sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan is indisputable.” He also issued “a severe calling to the authorities of other countries to be responsible with their comments and not confuse their citizens.” The Argentine Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday stressing that Argentina fully respects the treaties that establish the Strait of Magellan as part of Chilean territory. The Foreign Ministry did not directly mention Valverde or apologize for his comments, but rather emphasized that Argentina defends the “strategic importance” of the American continent’s southern tip, especially in the defense of its interests over the Malvinas Islands, the South Atlantic and Antarctica. Chilean government reactions Chilean President José Antonio Kast — an ally of fellow right-wing Argentine leader Javier Milei — briefly addressed the tensions on Tuesday, following the Argentine Foreign Ministry’s statement. “We appreciate the Argentine government’s statements recognizing the sovereignty of the Strait of Magellan, which belongs to Chile,” he said while speaking at the presidential palace La Moneda. Chilean Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado also said that “the entirety of the Strait of Magellan is undoubtedly Chilean.” “It strikes us that these kinds of statements come up every so often, because there is nothing to debate here regarding sovereignty and who has jurisdiction over the Strait of Magellan,” Alvarado said at La Moneda on Tuesday. Cover image features Defense Ministers Fernando Barros Tocornal (Chile) and Carlos Alberto Presti (Argentina). Credit: Ministry of Defense of Chile – Ministry of Defense of Argentina