Bolivia-Chile: A Historical Hatred Explained

Anti-Chilean sentiment in Bolivia is fuelled by the country's claims to territory on the Pacific coast, which it lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific between 1879 and 1884. Bolivia's loss of its Pacific coast is often attributed to the country's underdevelopment, as it is the only landlocked country in the Americas, making it more difficult to export natural resources. This anti-Chilean sentiment has been exploited by Bolivian politicians for over a century, with Bolivia maintaining a large navy despite being landlocked. In 2013, Bolivia took a case to the International Court of Justice, demanding that Chile negotiate to grant it sovereign access to the sea, which Chile contested, citing the 1904 Peace Treaty.

Bolivia's loss of Pacific coast access to Chile

Bolivia has been a landlocked country since 1904 when it lost access to the Pacific coast to Chile. This loss of territory has been a source of tension and dispute between the two countries for over a century, with Bolivia arguing that Chile has an obligation to negotiate and provide it with sovereign access to the sea.

The dispute between Bolivia and Chile dates back to the War of the Pacific in the late 1800s. In 1879, Chile invaded the Antofagasta port city on its northern border with Bolivia, triggering a conflict that also involved Peru. As a result of the war, Chile took control of almost 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including a 250-mile coastline on the southern Pacific Ocean.

In 1904, Bolivia signed a peace treaty with Chile, accepting the loss of its coastal territory in exchange for a promise of free commercial access to Chilean ports. However, Bolivia has never forgotten its dream of regaining access to the Pacific and has continued to pursue various avenues to achieve this goal.

The loss of Pacific coast access has had significant economic implications for Bolivia. Bolivian politicians and leaders have argued that the country's lack of direct access to international waters has hindered its economic growth and development. They claim that Bolivia's annual GDP growth would be significantly higher if it had a sovereign route to the sea.

Despite the 1904 peace treaty, relations between Bolivia and Chile have remained strained due to the ongoing dispute. Bolivia and Chile have suspended full diplomatic relations since 1978. In recent years, Bolivia has taken its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, seeking to force Chile to negotiate the handover of some of its coastal territory. However, in 2024, the ICJ ruled against Bolivia, stating that Chile was not obliged to enter into negotiations.

The issue of regaining access to the Pacific coast has become an emotive and nationalistic cause for Bolivians, who celebrate a national Day of the Sea each year. Despite the ICJ's ruling, Bolivian President Evo Morales has vowed that "Bolivia will never give up" on its quest for sovereign access to the sea.

Anti-Chilean sentiment in Bolivia

Anti-Chilean sentiment (Spanish: antichilenismo) or chilenophobia (Spanish: chilenofobia) refers to the historical and current resentment towards Chile, Chileans, or Chilean culture. This sentiment is most prevalent among Chile's neighbours, including Bolivia.

Causes of Anti-Chilean Sentiment in Bolivia

One of the historical causes of anti-Chilean sentiment in Bolivia is the perceived Chilean expansionism that took place during the 19th century. In particular, the War of the Pacific, which was declared by Bolivia after forming a secret alliance with Peru, resulted in Chile obtaining military hegemony on the Pacific Coast of South America. Chile's expansion was seen with concern across the continent, and Chilean diplomats responded by fostering rivalries between Chile's neighbours and other South American countries.

As a result of the War of the Pacific, Bolivia lost its Litoral Department and its outlet to the Pacific Ocean, becoming a landlocked country. This loss of access to the sea is a deeply emotional and political issue for Bolivians, who often attribute their country's underdevelopment to the loss of seaports in the war. Chilean territory in the Atacama Desert, which contains a huge copper vein that makes Chile the largest copper exporter in the world, is located in lands claimed by Bolivia.

Impact of Anti-Chilean Sentiment in Bolivia

The anti-Chilean sentiment in Bolivia has been exploited by Bolivian politicians for over a century. Bolivian presidents have repeatedly pressured Chile for sovereign access to the sea, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 1978 despite considerable commercial ties. Bolivian popular opinion holds that gaining a sovereign piece of the seacoast through Chilean land would solve many of the country's problems.

Anti-Chilean Terminology

In Peru and Bolivia, the word "roto" ("tattered") is used to refer to Chileans in a disdainful manner. The term was first applied to Spanish conquerors in Chile, who were poorly dressed and favoured military strength over intellect. In modern usage, "roto" is an offensive term used to disparage people with ill manners or a broken mental state.

Bolivia's claims to the Pacific coast

The Treaty of Valparaíso granted Bolivia the right to freely trade at Chilean ports, and in 1895, the two countries agreed to the Treaty on the Transfer of Territories, which stipulated that Chile would sell Tacna and Arica to Bolivia. However, this treaty was never implemented due to a lack of approval from the congresses of both nations. In 1904, Bolivia and Chile signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, agreeing that Antofagasta would remain Chilean territory, and in return, Chile would construct a railroad connecting La Paz with a port, granting Bolivia free trade rights and customs facilities at its Pacific ports.

Despite the treaty, Bolivia has persistently sought to regain sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. In 1920, during a meeting in La Paz, Chilean representatives expressed willingness to cede part of the zone north of Arica to Bolivia, but no agreement was reached. In 1975, the Chilean government proposed a territorial swap with the Charaña Accords, but this proposal was rejected by Peru, which held rights over the former Peruvian land included in the deal. As a result of the failed negotiations, Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Chile in 1978, and full diplomatic relations have not been restored since.

In 2013, Bolivia's President Evo Morales filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking to force Chile to negotiate the handover of some of its Pacific coastline. Bolivia argued that the lack of sovereign access to the sea had detrimental economic effects, hindering its economic growth. However, in 2018, the ICJ ruled against Bolivia, stating that Chile was under no obligation to negotiate territorial changes. Despite this setback, Bolivia continues to pursue its dream of restoring its access to the Pacific coast, and the dispute remains unresolved.

The War of the Pacific

The direct cause of the war was a dispute over nitrate taxation between Bolivia and Chile. In February 1878, Bolivia increased taxes on the Chilean mining company, Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta (CSFA), violating the Boundary Treaty of 1874. Chile protested and requested international arbitration, but Bolivia, under President Hilarión Daza, considered the matter an internal issue. On 14 February 1879, the day of the auction of CSFA's assets, Chile's armed forces occupied the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta. Bolivia declared war on Chile on 1 March 1879, and Peru, bound by a secret alliance with Bolivia, joined the war on 5 April 1879.

The war was fought on the Pacific Ocean, in the Atacama and Peruvian deserts, and the mountainous interior of Peru. The first five months consisted of a naval campaign, as Chile struggled to establish a supply corridor for its forces in the Atacama Desert. Chile's land campaign eventually overcame the Bolivian and Peruvian armies. Bolivia withdrew after the Battle of Tacna on 26 May 1880, leaving Peru to fight alone. Chilean forces occupied Lima, Peru's capital, in January 1881. Remnants of the Peruvian army waged guerrilla warfare but were unable to prevent a peace deal.

Chile and Peru signed the Treaty of Ancón on 20 October 1883, with Chile acquiring the Peruvian territory of Tarapacá and the disputed Bolivian department of Litoral, turning Bolivia into a landlocked country. Bolivia signed a truce with Chile in 1884, officially ending the War of the Pacific. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1904 established definite boundaries, with Arica going to Chile and Tacna to Peru.

Bolivian demands for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean

Bolivia has long sought to regain its access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to Chile following the War of the Pacific in 1879. This loss of coastline has negatively impacted Bolivia's economy, and the country has been dependent on Chile's goodwill to gain access to the ocean for trade.

In 2013, Bolivia petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to find that Chile was obligated to negotiate with Bolivia towards granting Bolivia sovereign access to the sea. Bolivia based its arguments on various bilateral agreements, diplomatic notes, joint declarations, and other acts and statements by Chile, which it believed created a legal obligation for Chile to negotiate.

However, in 2018, the ICJ ruled against Bolivia, finding that Chile did not undertake a legal obligation to negotiate sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean for Bolivia. The court's ruling was final and binding, and it stated that Chile's border with Bolivia was settled in the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Despite the ruling, Bolivia has continued to pursue negotiations with Chile and has also sought to decrease its dependence on Chilean ports by transitioning trade to Peruvian ports. Bolivia's demand for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean remains a key issue in Bolivian politics.

Bolivia's demand for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean stems from its loss of coastline to Chile following the War of the Pacific in 1879. This loss of coastline has negatively impacted Bolivia's economy, and the country has been dependent on Chile's goodwill to gain access to the ocean for trade.

Bolivia has sought to regain its access to the sea through negotiations with Chile and by raising the issue at the international level. In 2013, Bolivia brought a case against Chile at the ICJ, arguing that Chile had an obligation to negotiate and grant Bolivia sovereign access to the sea. Bolivia based its arguments on various bilateral agreements, diplomatic notes, joint declarations, and other acts and statements by Chile, which it believed created a legal obligation for Chile to negotiate.

However, Chile disputed these arguments, claiming that its border with Bolivia was settled in the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship and that it had no obligation to negotiate. Chile also argued that the disputed coastal stretch was sovereign Chilean territory and was not up for negotiation.

In 2018, the ICJ ruled in favor of Chile, finding that Chile did not have a legal obligation to negotiate sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean for Bolivia. The court's ruling was final and binding, and it stated that the decision should not preclude continued dialogue and exchanges between the two countries to address Bolivia's landlocked situation.

Despite the ruling, Bolivia has continued to pursue negotiations with Chile. Bolivian President Evo Morales stated that Bolivia "will never give up" its pursuit of access to the Pacific Ocean. Bolivia has also sought to reduce its dependence on Chilean ports by transitioning trade to Peruvian ports.

Bolivia's demand for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean remains a key issue in Bolivian politics and has been used by President Morales to bolster his reelection efforts. It is also a matter of national feeling and economic importance for Bolivia. The resolution of this conflict is seen as part of the ongoing integration process in Latin America, and there is popular support for Bolivia's demands in both Bolivia and Chile.

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