Chile vows to protect Antarctica amid massive oil discovery claims

The Infobae portal reported that Chile's president, Gabriel Boric, stated that his country will firmly oppose any attempts at commercial extraction of resources in Antarctica, linking this to reports of Russia discovering massive oil deposits there.

Infobae notes that the oil deposits, which, according to media reports, were discovered by Russia, are located in a zone claimed by the United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina.

"Chile has defended, defends, and will continue to defend the idea that Antarctica is a continent of science and peace. We will firmly oppose any commercial exploitation of minerals and hydrocarbons," wrote President Boric on the X platform.

The Chilean president emphasized in his post, "We will work together with all claimant states and signatories of the Antarctic Treaty to ensure that this principle is respected by all countries."

Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren stated that "from time to time, unconfirmed information" about deposits in Antarctica surfaces, but the Antarctic Treaty forbids their exploitation.

"Chile, like other Antarctic nations, will continue to defend the protection of Antarctica firmly," added the foreign minister.

The Daily Telegraph reported last week about the alleged discovery of oil deposits in the British Antarctic Territory. According to the newspaper, these deposits are 511 billion barrels, which is 10 times more than what has been extracted in the North Sea over 50 years.

The discovery, supposedly made by Russian research vessels, raises concerns about the possibility of initiating drilling in the protected region, the British newspaper assessed.