Chilean President Gabriel Boric embarked on a groundbreaking journey to Antarctica's South Pole, becoming the first Latin American president to set foot in this remote region. The expedition, known as Operation Pole Star III, aimed to enhance environmental monitoring efforts for pollutants in Antarctica.
Accompanied by scientists, armed forces commanders, and government ministers, President Boric led the two-day mission from Santiago to Punta Arenas before reaching the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a US-operated research facility.
Chile, one of seven countries with territorial claims in Antarctica, is a signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, which mandates the peaceful and scientific use of the continent. While Chile has historically focused on scientific activities in Antarctica's northern sector, the government now seeks to expand research in the western region.
President Boric expressed his pride and honor in being the first Chilean and Latin American leader to visit the South Pole, emphasizing Chile's commitment to maintaining Antarctica as a continent of science and peace. He underscored Chile's sovereignty claim in the region, highlighting the significance of the Chilean flag among the 12 flags representing nations that signed the Antarctic Treaty.
In a video shared from the expedition, President Boric greeted viewers from Chilean Antarctica, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in the country's Antarctic exploration.
