Bolivia's Coastal Claims: A Country's Geographic Identity

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) and has been landlocked ever since. The dispute over coastal access between Bolivia and Chile has deep roots and remains unresolved, with Bolivia taking its case to the International Court of Justice in recent years.

Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884)

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It shares Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America, with Peru. Bolivia has been landlocked since it lost its coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884).

The War of the Pacific was fought between Chile and an alliance of Bolivia and Peru. The war was sparked by a dispute over the taxation of the nitrate industry, a major source of income for Chileans working in what was then Bolivian territory. Chile protested the violation of the Boundary Treaty of 1874, which prohibited tax increases for mining. However, Bolivia considered this an internal issue and rescinded the license of the Chilean company, seizing its assets. In response, Chile's armed forces occupied the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta, and war was declared.

Chile's superior resources and military discipline led to victory over the Bolivian and Peruvian armies. Chile annexed a significant amount of resource-rich territory, including 120,000 square kilometres of Bolivian land, resulting in Bolivia losing 400 kilometres of coastline. The war ended with the Treaty of Ancón in 1883 between Chile and Peru, and a truce between Chile and Bolivia in 1884.

The loss of coastal access has had a profound and long-lasting impact on Bolivia, with aspirations to regain sovereignty over the sea remaining a recurring theme in its domestic and foreign policy. Despite agreements granting indirect access to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, tensions with Chile have persisted, and Bolivia has taken its case to international courts.

Bolivia is landlocked and has been since the War of the Pacific

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It has been landlocked since the War of the Pacific, which took place between 1879 and 1884. Bolivia fought against Chile and Peru, losing 120,000 sq km of land and 400km of coastline.

The war was fought over Chilean claims on coastal Bolivian territory in the Atacama Desert, an area rich in sodium nitrate. The direct cause of the war was a dispute over nitrate taxation between Bolivia and Chile, with Peru joining the war due to its secret alliance with Bolivia. Bolivia increased taxes on the Chilean mining company Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta (CSFA), violating the Boundary Treaty of 1874, which prohibited tax increases for mining. Chile protested this violation, but Bolivia considered it an internal issue. In response, Chile occupied the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta, and war was declared.

Chile won the war, gaining significant resource-rich territory from both Peru and Bolivia. Bolivia lost its coastal province of Antofagasta, becoming a landlocked country. In 1904, Chile and Bolivia signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which established definite boundaries and gave Chile control of the disputed Bolivian department of Litoral.

Despite the peace treaty, tensions between Bolivia and Chile persist to this day. Bolivia's 2009 constitution reaffirmed the country's right to access the Pacific Ocean, and in 2013, Bolivia filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to force Chile to negotiate sea access. However, the ICJ ruled that Chile was not obligated to enter such negotiations.

Bolivia has preferential access to Chilean ports in the north

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest and west, and Peru to the northwest. Bolivia's lack of coastline is a result of the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), in which it lost territory to Chile, including its entire coastline.

In 1904, Bolivia and Chile signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which granted Bolivia access to Chilean ports and the construction of a railway between the Chilean port of Arica and the Bolivian capital, La Paz. Bolivia still has preferential access to Chile's northern ports, Arica and Antofagasta, and exports goods through these ports.

The Treaty of Peace and Friendship has had a significant impact on Bolivia's access to the ocean. According to Article 6 of the treaty, "The Republic of Chile grants to that of Bolivia in perpetuity the amplest and freest right of commercial transit in its territory and its Pacific ports." This provision ensures that Bolivia has ongoing access to Chilean ports for commercial purposes. Additionally, the treaty stipulated the construction of a railway between the port of Arica and La Paz, providing an effective means of transport between Bolivia and the coast.

As per the treaty, Bolivia enjoys preferential treatment in the Chilean ports of Arica and Antofagasta. For example, Bolivia is allowed to have its own customs officials in these ports, despite them being sovereign Chilean territory. Bolivian cargo also benefits from reduced tariffs and preferential cargo storage options. The privileges granted to Bolivia in these ports come at a significant cost to Chile, amounting to approximately $100 million annually.

In recent years, Bolivia has sought to reduce its dependence on Chilean ports by exploring alternative routes through Peru and the Atlantic Waterway. However, despite these efforts, Chilean ports remain the primary gateway for maritime goods to and from Bolivia, with over 60% of Bolivian cargo still being shipped through Chile as of 2020.

Bolivia has a maritime claim to part of Chile

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It has been landlocked since it lost its Pacific coast territory to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). Bolivia and Chile have been engaged in a long-running and bitter diplomatic stand-off over this issue.

The dispute between Bolivia and Chile dates back to the late 19th century when Chile went to war with the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The war was sparked by a disagreement over taxation of the nitrate industry, a major source of income for Chileans working in what was then Bolivian territory. Chile won the war and annexed 120,000 sq km of Bolivian land, resulting in Bolivia losing 400km of coastline.

In 1904, the two countries signed a peace treaty. Under the terms of the treaty, Chile agreed to compensate Bolivia for its loss of land and to provide Bolivia with access to Chilean ports. Chile also agreed to build a railway from the port of Arica to Bolivia's biggest city, La Paz.

However, Bolivian President Evo Morales has argued that the 1904 treaty was effectively imposed on Bolivia under duress. He has called for the treaty to be scrapped or amended to give Bolivia sovereignty over the land it once owned. In 2013, Bolivia took its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, seeking to force Chile to negotiate the handover of some of its land. Bolivia framed the suit as an economic matter, arguing that its annual GDP growth would be 20% higher if it had a route to international waters.

Chile, on the other hand, maintains that it has upheld the 1904 promise by providing Bolivia with duty-free port access and its own customs station and storage facilities on the Chilean coast. Chile also asserts that the disputed coastal stretch is sovereign Chilean territory and is therefore non-negotiable.

In October 2018, the ICJ ruled against Bolivia, stating that Chile was not obliged to negotiate granting Bolivia access to the sea. This ruling was final and binding, marking a major setback for President Morales and dashing the hopes of Bolivians for a sovereign route to the sea.

Despite the ICJ's ruling, the dispute between Bolivia and Chile remains unresolved, with Bolivia continuing to assert its maritime claim to part of Chile.

Bolivia has a Special Economic Zone for maritime access in Peru

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It has been landlocked since it lost its Pacific coast territory to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884). However, agreements with neighbouring countries have granted it indirect access to the sea. Bolivia has been working to reduce its dependence on Chilean ports by exploring alternative routes through Peru and the Atlantic waterway.

In 2010, Bolivia and Peru signed a deal allowing Bolivia to build and operate a small port near Ilo, on Peru's Pacific coast. This deal was a diplomatic gesture of South American brotherhood and a way for Bolivia to regain access to the sea. The agreement allows Bolivia to build a dock, moor naval vessels, and operate a free trade zone, giving it an alternative to shipping exports via Chile.

Bolivia has also been exploring the possibility of developing facilities along the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, which connects to the Río de la Plata and provides access to the Atlantic Ocean. This route has seen a steady increase in cargo flow over the last decade. Additionally, Bolivia has been promoting greater trade through Peruvian ports, particularly the port of Ilo.

While Bolivia continues to have preferential access to Chile's northern ports, such as Arica and Antofagasta, through the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, it has sought to diversify its trade routes. The existence of a like-minded government in Peru, with a shared focus on Andean indigenism, has further encouraged Bolivia to explore these alternative routes.

Bolivia's efforts to reduce its dependence on Chilean ports have resulted in a decrease in the volume of Bolivian cargo shipped through Chile in recent years. This shift has provided Bolivia with more logistical options and a wider margin for manoeuvre in its trade endeavours.

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