The Strait of Magellan is recovering its status as a strategically important maritime route at the geopolitical level. For decades, this passage lost importance for commercial navigation following the opening of the Panama Canal. However, the drought that has been affecting the Panama Canal is putting pressure on the main interoceanic passage, leading more and more ships to opt for a detour further south, through the Strait of Magellan.
Official cartography, both from Chile and Argentina, is clear regarding sovereignty over the Strait. Along its entire length, the passage belongs to Chile, as established by the 1881 Treaty between the two South American countries.
This agreement was subsequently confirmed by the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which arose after a long border dispute between Chile and Argentina. The resolution of this territorial dispute was mediated by Pope John Paul II, who helped define the limits of the Beagle Channel region, putting an end to a conflict that had dragged on for decades.
