Chile opposes Antarctic oil exploration amid Russia's claim

The Infobae portal reported that Chilean President Gabriel Boric stated that his country would firmly oppose any attempts at commercially extracting 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.

President Boric wrote on the X platform that Chile had defended, defended, and would continue to defend the idea that Antarctica was a continent of science and peace. According to him, the Chilean government would firmly oppose any commercial exploitation of minerals and hydrocarbons.

Chilean president emphasized in his post that Chilean officials would work with all claimant states and signatories of the Antarctic Treaty to ensure that all countries respect this principle.

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

The foreign minister added that Chile, like other Antarctic nations, would continue to defend the protection of Antarctica firmly.

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 in size, 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.