Antarctic territorial claims

Seven countries claim portions of Antarctica, with some claims overlapping. The Antarctic Treaty leaves these claims in abeyance and bars new claims or enlargements while it remains in force.

Antarctic Treaty: A 1959 treaty that reserves Antarctica for peaceful purposes and scientific cooperation while freezing the territorial status quo. Article IV prevents the claims dispute from obstructing cooperation or generating new claims.
British Antarctic Territory: The United Kingdom’s Antarctic claim, covering a wedge between 20°W and 80°W. Britain formalized one of the earliest claims in the sector later disputed by Argentina and Chile.
Unclaimed areas of Antarctica: Parts of Antarctica not claimed by any country, including Marie Byrd Land. They contrast with the sectors claimed by seven states.
Antarctic research stations: Facilities in Antarctica used for scientific research and supporting fieldwork. National stations demonstrate presence without resolving territorial title.
Antarctic Treaty System: The treaties and related measures governing Antarctica, built around the Antarctic Treaty. Its wider rules and institutions govern activity in the claimed territories.
Argentine Antarctica: Argentina’s Antarctic claim, covering a sector that overlaps British and Chilean claims. Its overlap with two rival claims shows how national sectors came to conflict.
Non-recognition of Antarctic claims: The position of states that do not recognize some or all Antarctic territorial claims. Several treaty parties neither accept the claims nor renounce their own positions.
Antarctic governance: The institutions and rules through which states coordinate human activity in Antarctica. Treaty-based governance operates across claimed and unclaimed areas alike.
Antarctic Treaty Article IV: The treaty provision preserving positions on Antarctic sovereignty while preventing new claims and enlargements. It states the legal compromise that keeps existing claims in abeyance.
Chilean Antarctic Territory: Chile’s Antarctic claim, covering a sector that overlaps British and Argentine claims. Its overlap with neighboring claims makes the sectoral dispute explicit.

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