State-of-the-Nation address: President announces visit to Antarctica to review and improve our presence in the territory
In international matters, the President announced various measures that are being and will be taken to strengthen our bases on the white continent.
Chile’s presence in Antarctic territory is being strongly promoted by the Government. This was made clear in President Gabriel Boric’s State-of-the-Nation address, when he announced a series of measures that are being taken to strengthen our bases on the white continent.
Given the strategic importance of this territory, where Chile has had a presence for more than 70 years, the President stressed “that one of the characteristics that makes our country special is its Antarctic status. We are one of the member countries of the Antarctic Treaty and one of the main entry routes to this continent of science and peace.”
In this sense, he highlighted the recent inauguration of the Cape Horn Sub-Antarctic Center in the city of Puerto Williams, “with the collaborative work of the regional and central government, which will be led by the Universidad de Magallanes together with a consortium of universities.”
President Boric also reported that he will travel to the white continent alongside the commanders in chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force to “inspect on the ground the areas of improvement that our presence on the continent requires.”
He also stressed that all of the above is in addition to the recent launch by the Navy of the first icebreaker built entirely in Chile by ASMAR. The ship, called the Óscar Viel, will allow better scientific and military deployment in the area.
International agreements
In international matters, the President emphasized the modernization of the agreement between Chile and the European Union in his State-of-the-Nation address. This will allow us “to improve our access to the European market, strengthen environmental and labor protection standards and establish a legal framework for digital commerce.”
President Boric also highlighted Chile’s integration into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and announced that our country will co-host the First Latin American Summit for Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable Global Taxation, alongside Colombia and Brazil.
“Almost a year ago, together with important partners such as Canada, the US, Mexico and Colombia, we managed to finalize an agreement for a marine protected corridor along the American Pacific. And in the coming weeks, the Ocean Treaty will be adopted at the United Nations headquarters in New York after 16 years of discussion. Chile has presented its candidacy to be the UN head office for the treaty, committing to being the world capital for the protection of the oceans,” President Boric stated.
Finally, the President explained that our country has become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 period. He also reminded that, in July of last year, we ratified the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, known as the Protocol of San Salvador.