Competing claims among Argentina, Chile, and Great Britain in the Antarctic: economic and geopolitical undercurrents
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Authors
Lanker, Russell G.
Subjects
Antarctica
Antarctica Treaty System
Wellington Convention
Beagle Channel conflict
Falklands/Malvinas War
Overlapping claims in Antarctic Regions
Renewable/non-renewable resources
Argentina
Chile
Brazil
Great Britain
Drake Passage
U.S. interests in the Antarctica
Antarctica Treaty System
Wellington Convention
Beagle Channel conflict
Falklands/Malvinas War
Overlapping claims in Antarctic Regions
Renewable/non-renewable resources
Argentina
Chile
Brazil
Great Britain
Drake Passage
U.S. interests in the Antarctica
Advisors
Bruneau, Thomas C.
Date of Issue
1991-06
Date
June 1991
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The Antarctic continent holds a vast economic potential in both renewable and non-renewable resources. Therefore, the sovereignty of the continent, and in particular the Antarctic peninsula and Weddell Sea areas, has been a key issue between the two Southern Cone nations of Argentina and Chile for hundreds of years. Currently these two nations, along with Great Britain, have overlapping claims in the region. This thesis examines the geopolitical and historical claims of these and other nations, along with the current and potential mechanisms that are designed to regulate the region. It will also evaluate the potential for conflict in the future over the disputed region and examines current U.S. interests. It concludes that the United States should make every effort to maintain the current Antarctic Treaty System. The Antarctic continent is unique not only because of its vast starkness and relative isolation, but also because of its special multinational governing regime and its potential economic significance. It is the only continent upon which no nation is sovereign. There are seven nations which have territorial claims to sectors of the continent and three of these overlap. Each nation has its own justification for occupation of the continent, however, these reasons can be categorized into two main groupings: fulfillment of geopolitical goals, or economic aspirations
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
120 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.