The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, said on Monday that Argentina has apologized for the installation of part of a military base in Chilean territory and demanded that the neighboring country remove the solar panels it installed in its country “as soon as possible.”
From France, within the framework of his official tour of Europe, he explained that his government became aware that “Argentina, when installing a military base in the Patagonia region, installed solar panels in Chilean territory,” an incident that violates the border between both countries and that has generated unrest in the political and diplomatic sphere.
“We received an apology from the Argentine Foreign Ministry, but I would like to tell you very clearly that borders are not something with which there can be ambiguities and that it is a basic principle of respect between countries and that therefore they must withdraw.” those solar panels as soon as possible or we are going to do it,” Boric told reporters after his arrival in the French capital.
In April, Argentina inaugurated a military surveillance post at Cabo del Espíritu Santo, in Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago at the southern tip of America shared by Chile and Argentina. However, the Trans-Andean Navy installed solar panels in Chilean territory, three meters from the border, in the process, which was attributed to “an error” by the Argentine government.
Boric clarified that the issue was addressed in a meeting with his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei during the Global Peace Summit, held over the weekend in the city of Lucerne, Switzerland, and he trusts that it will be resolved briefly.
“I mentioned it to President Milei. He told me that he was going to send it to his Minister of Foreign Affairs. Many things unite us with Argentina, therefore I do not intend for us to escalate tension between relations regarding that,” he said.
He added that “I imagine that we are not going to have problems in this regard, but it is a misleading signal, a signal that we do not like and therefore what we demand is that this be resolved in the shortest possible time. I insist, if not, we are going to do it,” she stated.
A few hours later, the Argentine Navy confirmed in a statement that it transferred personnel and equipment on Tuesday afternoon to begin the removal of the material.
This panel is part of a set of three structures of a hybrid energy system used to maintain the facilities of the HITO 1 Maritime Traffic Surveillance and Control Post, dependent on the Argentine Navy, but which is adjacent to the Cabo Espíritu Surveillance Post Santo, operated by the Chilean Navy.
“Aware of the involuntary error in the placement of one of the 3-meter panels within Chilean territory, the removal was coordinated with the corresponding contracting company for its subsequent relocation within Argentine territory,” the note reads.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our YouTube channels, WhatsApp and the newsletter. Activate notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and Instagram.
