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Chilean President Gabriel Boric became the first American leader to visit the South Pole after arriving at a US base.
The president said his visit to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was confirmed Chile’s own claim to sovereignty over part of Antarctica.
“This is an important milestone for us,” Borich said in footage shown on Chilean television, before adding that “this is the first time a Chilean president has come to the South Pole and talked about Chile’s Antarctic mission.”
Borik was traveling with a group of scientists and several cabinet members, including the ministers of the armed forces and the environment, his office said.
Boric said his visit underscored Chile’s determination to play a key role in scientific projects in the region, especially those related to climate change.
A government statement said research centres, universities, diplomats and the armed forces have come together to ensure that Chile becomes the world’s gateway to Antarctica.
Leftist president Gabriel Borik won the 2021 presidential election in Chile to become the youngest head of the country at the age of 35.
Before Borich, only two other world leaders visited the South Pole: the prime ministers of New Zealand and Norway.
Several countries, including Chile, Great Britain, France, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, have claimed part of Antarctica and many others are present there.
Antarctica is not a country: it has no government and no indigenous population. Instead, the entire continent is set aside as a scientific reserve.
The Antarctic Treatywhich entered into force in 1961, enshrines the ideal of intellectual exchange.
The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is named after Roald Amundsen – a Norwegian explorer who led the first expedition to the South Pole – as well as Robert Scott, the British explorer whom Amundsen surpassed at the Pole in 1911.
Scott and four companions died on the return leg of the trek after being caught in a blizzard.
