World
Chile’s defense minister defended trade with the Falkland Islands and reaffirmed support for the Argentine claim
Fernando Barros Torconal endorsed a possible maritime link between Punta Arenas and the islands and said the sovereignty dispute should be resolved through peaceful means. His remarks opened differences with the more emphatic tone Chile had expressed in support of Argentina’s position.
Chile’s Defense Minister, Fernando Barros Torconal, backed the possibility of deepening commercial ties between the Magallanes region and the Falkland Islands, amid discussions over a possible maritime route between Punta Arenas and the archipelago.
According to C5N, Clarín, BAE Negocios and Todo Noticias, the official said in an interview with Radio Polar de Magallanes that Chile maintains its support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim, although he stressed that the United Kingdom has exercised de facto control over the islands for 200 years. He also said that any resolution to the dispute must come through peaceful talks between Buenos Aires and London and take into account the interests of the archipelago’s inhabitants.
According to those outlets, Barros Torconal said that Chile and the Magallanes community have the right to carry out commercial activities within the legal framework, and therefore saw no objection to this type of exchange with the islands moving forward.
Clarín, BAE Negocios and Todo Noticias added that the minister also referred to oil exploitation in the Falklands and described it as a more contentious issue that will have to be analyzed in due course.
Todo Noticias also reported that, in early September, the Chilean shipping company Eastern Islands signed an agreement with the islands’ government to open a maritime connection between Punta Arenas and Puerto Argentino.
The statements came after, as C5N recalled, Javier Milei again called before the United Nations General Assembly for Argentine sovereignty over the Falklands and asked the United Kingdom to reopen negotiations. The same outlet said the British government responded that it has no doubts about its sovereignty over the islands.
Clarín and BAE Negocios added that, one day after the Chilean minister’s remarks, Wes Streeting said in The Sun that the United Kingdom is prepared to defend the islands by force.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
