Chilean ex-military officer proposes incursion into Vaca Muerta

A video featuring José Manuel Pizarro Ovalle, a former captain of the Chilean Army, has caused controversy after he proposed a military incursion into the Vaca Muerta hydrocarbon reserves in Argentina's Neuquén province.

In the footage, Pizarro Ovalle, who was dismissed from the military two decades ago, suggested that Chile might be forced to take military action if Argentina refuses to accept “irresistible” price offers for its petroleum resources. He claimed such a conflict could trigger a domino effect involving military tensions with Peru.

Security specialists and political analysts have dismissed the remarks as the personal opinion of a retired officer, noting he has no official connection to the Chilean government or its current authorities.