Dispute over the extended continental shelf in the Southern Zone Sea between Argentina and Chile explained

The dispute over the extended continental shelf in the Southern Zone Sea between Argentina and Chile[1] [2] is a disagreement between the two countries over a maritime area of 5,302 km² that began after Argentina attempted to extend its maritime space based on the theory of the extended continental shelf over the Southern Zone Sea (es|Mar de la Zona Austral),[3] south of Point F as agreed in the 1984 treaty, in an area claimed by Chile as part of its "presential sea", and now as part of its continental shelf (not extended) projected from the Diego Ramírez Islands.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Argentina previously claimed the overlapping "crescent" shaped zone as "heritage protection sea"[15] continental shelves have prevalence over extended continental shelves according to the International Court rulling over the Colombia-Nicaragua case.

The dispute also involves both countries' projections towards the Antarctic continent.[16] Under the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Article 59 disputed and overlapping claims have no legal force until the dispute is resolved between the opposing parties.

History

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of April 30, 1982, which entered into force on November 16, 1994, established the regime of the continental shelf in Part VI (Articles 76 to 85), defining in Article 76, paragraph 1 what is understood as a continental shelf.

Argentina ratified the convention on January 12, 1995, and it came into force for the country on December 31, 1995.

On August 25, 1997, Chile signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and it entered into force for the country on September 24, 1997.

In 2009, Argentina submitted a presentation to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which was accepted in 2016 by the UNCLOS.[17] The map in the submission included the disputed territories with the United Kingdom, such as the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands, a crescent-shaped area south of Argentina's territorial sea as defined in the 1984 treaty with Chile.[18] This area was also claimed by Chile as part of its presential sea,[19] and the sea surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula, which is claimed by all three aforementioned countries.[20] That same year, on May 8, Chile submitted its Preliminary Report to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.[21] [22] [23]

In 2020, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the outer limit of the Argentine Continental Shelf in Law 27,557.[24]

That same year, on December 21, Chile submitted to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf the partial report on the extended continental shelf in Easter Island and Salas y Gómez.[25] [26]

In 2021, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera signed Supreme Decree No. 95, which outlined the continental shelf east of the 67º 16' 0 meridian as part of Chile's continental shelf (not the extended one) area projected from the Diego Ramírez Islands, also claiming the crescent area that Argentina considers part of its extension achieved under the extended continental shelf principle.[27] [28] [29] This was reflected in the SHOA Chart No. 8[30] and prompted a response from the Argentine Foreign Ministry against Chile's measure.[31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]

In February 2022, Chile submitted its second partial presentation regarding the Western Continental Shelf of the Chilean Antarctic Territory.[39] [40] In August of the same year, Chile made the oral presentations of both partial submissions during the 55th Session of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf at the United Nations in New York.[41] [42]

In 2023, Chile, through SHOA, made available an illustrative graphic showing all the maritime areas claimed by the country, which was once again rejected by Argentina.[43] [44] [45] [46]

In July 2023, the International Court of Justice ruled on the priority of a Continental Shelf over a Extended Continental Shelf in the case of the territorial and maritime dispute between Colombia and Nicaragua.[47]

Background

Criteria in cases of disputed maritime territories

See also

Notes and References

  1. Juan Ignacio Ipinza Mayor. La Plataforma Continental de Chile en La Zona del Cabo de Hornos y Paso Drake: Tiempo de Definiciones. Center for Research and Strategic Studies. December 2019. November 21, 2024. 0719-4110. es.
  2. Web site: Chile y Argentina: ¿Qué es la plataforma continental y cuál es el conflicto?. Duna. August 30, 2021. October 17, 2024. es.
  3. The 1984 Treaty says about the maritime border: Artículo 7°. El límite entre las respectivas soberanías sobre el mar, suelo y subsuelo de la República Argentina y de la República de Chile en el Mar de la Zona Austral a partir del término de la delimitación existente en el Canal Beagle,...
  4. Web site: Chile and Argentina dispute the continental shelf south of their countries. CNN en Español. 2 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  5. Web site: Argentine press unanimously speaks of a "diplomatic conflict" and echoes official rejection of legitimate Chilean publication of the outer limit of the continental shelf extending 200 nautical miles from Punta Puga to the Diego Ramírez Islands. Infogate. 29 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  6. Web site: Argentina and Chile clash over a maritime dispute in the far southern tip of the Americas. El País. 3 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  7. La plataforma continental extendida: El caso de Chile y Argentina en el mar austral y la Antártica. Jorge Guzmán. 2017. Revista de Marina. 957. 12–17. 0034-8511. es.
  8. Web site: Manzano. Karen. Jiménez. Diego. Continental Shelf and Chilean Antarctica: Historical Background, Geopolitics, and Natural Resources. ANEPE. 2023. 17 October 2024. es.
  9. Web site: Extended continental shelf in Antarctica and Chile's situation. Revista Marina. 17 August 2021. 17 October 2024.
  10. Web site: Argentine continental shelf: The new dispute with the United Kingdom and Chile's role. Biobío. 30 March 2016. 17 October 2024.
  11. Web site: The area in the Drake Passage that generates a territorial dispute between Argentina and Chile. BBC Mundo. 10 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  12. Web site: Tension between Chile and Argentina over the continental shelf. La Tinta. 2 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  13. Web site: Edwin Ocampo Marquina . Continental Shelf and Maritime Sovereignty: An Argentine-Chilean Controversy . CEEEP . 18 October 2024 . Peru . 24 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Carlos Olaf Sarabia . Antarctic Claims: Racing for the seas and not the lands - Argentina and Chile . London Politica . 18 October 2024 . 7 April 2023.
  15. Web site: Chile and Argentina's Maritime Dispute Intensifies as Elections Approach . StateCraft . 18 October 2024 . 8 September 2021.
  16. Web site: Manzano. Karen. Antarctic projection and the continental shelf: Interests and actions regarding the white continent. 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  17. Web site: Argentina presents territorial claim. BBC. April 21, 2009. October 18, 2024.
  18. Web site: Crescent beyond point F of the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship: new maritime dispute with Argentina. El Mostrador. March 23, 2023. October 18, 2024.
  19. Web site: The Presential Sea of Chile. Its current challenge. Luis Kohler Gary. Revista Marina. March 2001.
  20. Web site: Fulvio Rossetti. No man's land, everyone's land. Unity and nature in the cultural figures of the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding areas. Revista 180. August 2021. October 18, 2024.
  21. Web site: Información Preliminar Indicativa de los límites exteriores de la Plataforma Continental y una descripción del estado de preparación y de la fecha prevista de envío de la presentación a la Comisión de Límites de la Plataforma Continental. Government of Chile. May 2009. October 21, 2024.
  22. Web site: New limits dispute arises between Chile and Argentina . Merco Press . 23 October 2024 . 30 August 2021.
  23. Web site: Argentina/Chile continental shelf dispute: "beware about arousing nationalism in electoral processes" . Merco Press . 23 October 2024 . 7 September 2021.
  24. Web site: Deputies approved two laws to strengthen sovereignty over the Malvinas. 5 August 2020 . Página/12. 17 October 2024. es.
  25. Web site: Chile seeks to define the Continental Shelf of the province of Easter Island. La Prensa Austral. June 16, 2024. November 21, 2024.
  26. Web site: The extended continental shelf around Easter Island and Salas y Gómez. Revista Marina. October 27, 2020. November 21, 2024.
  27. Web site: Piñera: "What Chile is doing is exercising its right and declaring its continental shelf". T13. 29 August 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  28. Web site: Chile will ask the UN to recognize its maritime platform extension, which is already causing conflict with Argentina. Infobae. 16 December 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  29. Web site: Diplomatic conflict between Argentina and Chile over the Continental Shelf. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain). 14 September 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  30. Web site: Southern Patagonian Ice Field and SHOA Chart No. 8.. Juan Ignacio Ipinza Mayor. InfoGate. 3 September 2021. 15 December 2023. es.
  31. Web site: After decrees: Argentina accuses Chile of trying to "appropriate" the southern continental shelf. T13. 28 August 2021. 17 October 2024. es.
  32. Web site: Argentina claims Chile over an area it does not yet own. Revista Puerto. 30 August 2021. 17 October 2024.
  33. Web site: Foreign Minister Allamand states that "it seems unnecessary to engage in further public debate" with Argentina over the continental shelf. Emol. September 2, 2021. October 17, 2024.
  34. Web site: Solá rejected the document signed by the PRO on the continental shelf: "They deny our rights," he said. Realidad Sanmartinense. August 31, 2021. October 17, 2024.
  35. Web site: Chile vs. Argentina por la plataforma continental en el Mar Austral: perspectivas. La Capital de Mar del Plata. October 5, 2021. October 18, 2024.
  36. Web site: Plataforma continental chilena en el mar de la zona austral, un interés esencial del Estado. CEP Chile. January 28, 2023. October 18, 2024.
  37. Web site: Chile and Argentina agree to discuss ongoing continental shelf differences south of Cape Horn . Merco Press . 23 October 2024 . 30 August 2021.
  38. Web site: 7 September 2021 . Argentina sends Chile diplomatic note rejecting their "expansive vocation" . Merco Press . 23 October 2024.
  39. Web site: Plataforma Continental Occidental del Territorio Chileno Antártico. National Committee for the Continental Shelf - Chile. February 28, 2022. October 21, 2024.
  40. Web site: Chile to present the extended continental shelf west of Antarctica to the UN. Info Defensa. December 16, 2021. October 17, 2024.
  41. Web site: Chile realiza sus presentaciones orales de Plataforma Continental extendida de Isla de Pascua y Antártica a la Comisión de Límites de la Plataforma Continental en Naciones Unidas. DIFROL. August 10, 2022. October 21, 2024.
  42. Web site: Proyecto Plataforma Continental de Chile. Government of Chile. 2023. October 21, 2024.
  43. Web site: SHOA makes available an illustrative graphic of Chilean maritime jurisdiction areas. Armada de Chile. August 23, 2023. October 17, 2024.
  44. Web site: Continental shelf: The stance Chile has maintained in response to Argentina's objections and the new frustration over SHOA maps. Emol. August 29, 2023. October 17, 2024.
  45. Web site: Argentine Foreign Ministry sends formal complaint to Chile over Navy map including continental shelf. Emol. August 29, 2023. October 17, 2024.
  46. Web site: Argentina protests over map with continental shelf created by Chilean Navy. Nuevo Poder. August 29, 2023. October 17, 2024.
  47. Web site: Nueva controversia en el mar de la zona austral. August 31, 2024. October 18, 2024.

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