Minister of Economy and Mining Daniel Mas defended the Chilean ship Danstar's voyage from Punta Arenas to the Falkland Islands, according to El Mostrador. Mas described the route as "a business deal between private parties". The president of the Argentine Naval League, Fernando Morales, had threatened to stop the vessel.
The Danstar will transport food, construction materials and other products to the archipelago. Its first trip is scheduled for late November or early December.
The same outlet cites BioBioChile. According to that outlet, Chilean intelligence reports warn of a possible interception of the vessel by Argentine forces. The article does not specify the origin of those reports or which forces would take part.
The source also does not explain what the Argentine Naval League is or whether it has any formal ties to the Argentine state. Nor does it report an official response from the government of Argentina, which claims sovereignty over the islands, administered by the United Kingdom.
"It is an agreement, it is a business deal between private parties; we are going to let it continue operating along those lines," Mas said. The minister added that the government must ensure sovereignty and compliance with the law. "The government sets the framework," he maintained.
Senator for Magallanes Alejandro Kusanovic disagreed with that interpretation. "It is much more than a matter between private parties," he said. The senator recalled that the Municipality of Punta Arenas took part in the agreement and that the municipality also represents the state.
For Kusanovic, the authorities must consider "all the variables and effects of this issue." The source does not report whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented.
The executive branch's position seeks to keep the route operating as a commercial venture, with the state providing oversight. The test will come with the Danstar's first departure, scheduled for late November or early December.
