According to BioBioChile, Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said Chile had committed not to participate in "any logistical assistance related to the exploitation" of natural resources on the Falkland Islands. He made the statement in an interview with journalist Eduardo Feinmann on the A24 channel in Argentina. So far, no other media outlet or the Chilean government has confirmed the alleged agreement.
The remarks come amid controversy over a vessel due to sail from Magallanes to the islands. Quirno said his government has no "official notification of a Chilean ship going to the Falklands". He added that "we should not get ahead of ourselves".
The foreign minister explained that the issue is being discussed between governments. According to his account, Chile, "acting consistently with its position", will not take part in that support. He also clarified that what was discussed "is not any kind of trade restriction".
Quirno acknowledged that the vessel passes through the Strait of Magellan and that this passage "is Chilean territory". Once outside the strait, he said, Argentina cannot stop innocent passage. That concept comes from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It allows a ship to cross another state's waters if it does not threaten its peace or security.
However, the foreign minister drew a line. Asked whether logistical support would qualify as innocent passage, he answered "no". He maintained that Chile has regulations and cargo manifests. If they are not complied with, he said, there could be smuggling, and then "there is no innocent passage".
Quirno ruled out any use of force. "We have no intention of attacking, we have no intention of boarding", he said. He insisted that everything is being done "peacefully and diplomatically" and that "sovereignty is not under discussion" with Chile.
The minister also defended the bilateral relationship. He spoke of an "excellent relationship" with President José Antonio Kast's government and his foreign minister. However, he accused "certain Chilean sectors" and outside actors of trying to provoke a conflict between the two countries.
That remark points to the authorities in Punta Arenas. When asked about his remarks, Quirno maintained that "there are many other actors" who want to "poison" the good relationship between Argentina and Chile.
The dispute over the Falklands dates back almost two centuries. The United Kingdom has administered the archipelago since 1833, and Argentina claims sovereignty over it. In 1982, the two countries fought a war over the islands.
In Chile, the executive branch has backed the route. According to previous coverage, Daniel Mas, who heads two ministries, described the Danstar vessel's voyage between Punta Arenas and the Falklands as a business arrangement between private parties that the state should only oversee. That position contrasts with the commitment Quirno describes.
As of publication, the Chilean government has not publicly responded to the Argentine foreign minister's remarks or confirmed the existence of the agreement.
