Chile asserts sovereignty over Magallanes Strait amid tensions with Argentina

Tensions between Chile and Argentina have escalated following disputes over sovereignty in the Magallanes region and the Antarctic. Chilean President José Antonio Kast recently denied claims made by Argentine Defense Minister Carlos Presti regarding joint naval patrols in the Strait of Magallanes, asserting that the Strait remains strictly under Chilean sovereignty.

The Chilean Chamber of Deputies has approved an interpellation of Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, who is scheduled to testify regarding the administration's handling of relations with Argentina. This political pressure follows long-standing disputes over maritime territories and the continental shelf, with critics pointing to historical disagreements regarding the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the 2009 Maipú Treaty.

While the Argentine government has addressed recent incidents with individual clarifications, the situation in Chile has prompted calls for military firmness from former naval commanders and increased scrutiny of the nation's defense capabilities.