Argentine President Javier Milei met with his Chilean counterpart, José Antonio Kast, on Thursday as tensions over the Strait of Magellan continue.
Members of the Chilean government said Milei was expected to sign a document, either during the trip or soon after, overturning a 2021 decree issued by Argentina that described the Strait of Magellan — a navigable sea route at the southern tip of South America that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is controlled by Chile — as a “shared space” between the two countries.
Friction between the administrations began last week following statements by Argentine Air Force chief Brigadier General Gustavo Javier Valverde, who suggested that his country had to maintain a presence along the sea route to protect its “sovereignty.”
After Chile protested, Argentine authorities, including the Defense Minister and the Foreign Office, clarified Valverde’s statement, saying it was just a “confusion” and confirming Chile’s sovereignty over the strait.
Milei arrived in Santiago de Chile on Thursday morning and spoke at a right-wing event called Foro Madrid. He later met United States Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers.
