Bolivia's Unique Maritime History: No Coast, No Problem

Bolivia has been landlocked since the War of the Pacific in 1879, when it lost its entire coastline to Chile. The dispute began when Chile invaded Bolivia's Antofagasta port city, and within four years, Chile had annexed almost 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including its 250-mile coastline. Since then, Bolivia has been fighting for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean, arguing that its landlocked status has hindered its economic growth. Despite having tariff-free access to Chilean ports, Bolivia maintains that its own ports would significantly improve its trade position. While Bolivia's efforts to negotiate with Chile have been rejected by the International Court of Justice, the country continues to pursue its dream of restoring its access to the coast.

Bolivia has a navy, despite not having a coastline

The Bolivian Navy, known as the Armada Boliviana, was established in 1963 as a "river force" with cast-off vessels from the US and China. It currently has approximately 5,000 personnel and a fleet that includes speedboats, tankers, and other vessels. The navy's troops navigate the Amazon River and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, shared with Peru. They also patrol Bolivia's river borders with Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

The country ceded its 250-mile coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific, which lasted from 1879 to 1883. Bolivia accepted this loss in 1904 by signing a peace treaty with Chile, which promised "'fullest and freest'" commercial access to a port. However, Bolivia has never forgotten its dream of regaining access to the Pacific Ocean, and the recovery of its coast is a matter of honour and national pride.

Every year on March 23, Bolivians celebrate the Day of the Sea, commemorating their lost coastline. The country has continued to pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to regain access to the sea, including taking Chile to the International Court of Justice in 2013. Bolivia argued that the lack of direct access to the sea has negatively impacted its economy, and it seeks to negotiate sovereign access to the ocean.

While Bolivia's navy may not have a coastline to call its own, it plays an important role in the country's aspirations and national identity. The navy's presence serves as a constant reminder of Bolivia's historical connection to the sea and its ongoing efforts to reclaim its place on the Pacific coast.

Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific in 1879

The War of the Pacific began in 1879 and involved Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, who entered the war through a pre-war alliance with Bolivia. The war was primarily driven by disputes over control of natural resources, particularly valuable mineral deposits in the Atacama Desert region. Bolivia and Chile had competing claims to this territory, and tensions escalated when Bolivia imposed a tax on Chilean companies extracting nitrate in the area. In response, Chile sent a warship to the area and ultimately declared war on Bolivia and Peru.

The war ended with the Treaty of Ancón between Chile and Peru and the Treaty of Valparaíso between Bolivia and Chile. Bolivia officially lost its coastline with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1904, which permanently established Chilean control over the disputed territory. In exchange, Chile agreed to construct a railroad connecting the Bolivian capital of La Paz with the port of Arica and granted Bolivia free trade rights at Chilean ports.

The loss of its coastline has had profound consequences for Bolivia. It has sought to regain sovereign access to the sea through negotiations, litigation, and diplomatic efforts. Bolivia established a navy in 1963 and continues to commemorate the loss of its coastline with an annual Day of the Sea. The country's landlocked status has also impacted its economic development, with higher logistical costs for trade and a lower GDP compared to its coastal neighbours.

Chile grants Bolivia access to the ports of Arica and Antofagasta

Bolivia has been a landlocked country since the end of the 19th century. In 1879, Chile invaded Bolivia's port city of Antofagasta as part of a dispute over taxes. Within four years, Chile had annexed nearly 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including its 250-mile coastline on the southern Pacific Ocean. This loss was formalised in 1904 when Bolivia signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, ceding its coastal lands in exchange for "fullest and freest" commercial access to Chilean ports.

In the Treaty of 1904, Chile promised to build two railway lines linking Bolivia's interior with the sea: the Arica-La Paz and the Antofagasta-Oruro railways. Both were operational for a time before being closed; the Arica-La Paz railway was reactivated in 2013 for cargo transport. The treaty also granted Bolivia free transit through Chile without levies, as well as the right to establish its own customs agencies in certain ports, namely Arica and Antofagasta. Today, Bolivia retains its customs facilities in Arica.

In addition to the ports of Arica and Antofagasta, Bolivia is also considering free transit through the port of Iquique, located between the two. Bolivia has special privileges in the port of Arica, which is the closest and most accessible port for the La Paz and El Alto area. Bolivia has its own customs offices, a port access control service, a storeroom, and cargo warehousing in this port. In the vicinity of Antofagasta, Bolivia has a 4-hectare area for the storage of minerals in transit.

Despite the provisions of the 1904 treaty, tensions between Bolivia and Chile have persisted. In 2013, Bolivia's President Evo Morales filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, demanding that Chile negotiate the handover of some of its coastal lands. Bolivia framed the suit as an economic matter, arguing that its GDP growth would be significantly higher if it had direct access to international waters. However, in 2018, the ICJ ruled against forcing Chile to negotiate, stating that Bolivia's loss of access to the sea was a closed issue that could not be revisited.

Bolivia's lack of coastline has hindered its economic growth

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, and its lack of coastline has indeed hindered its economic growth. Bolivia's GDP per capita is the second lowest in South America, and the country has the highest income inequality in Latin America and one of the highest in the world.

Historically, Bolivia has been rich in natural resources, with its silver mines in Potosí fuelling the globalisation of the world and the creation of the "$" sign. However, Bolivia has since lost over half of its territory to neighbouring countries, including its 250-mile coastline to Chile in 1879. Bolivia's access to the sea was an important source of revenue, and its loss has negatively impacted Bolivia's economy.

Bolivia's lack of coastline has also contributed to health problems in the country, as it has led to a lack of clean water and basic sanitation, especially in rural areas. Additionally, Bolivia's landlocked status has resulted in higher transportation costs for imports and exports, affecting its trade and economic growth.

To address these challenges, Bolivia has been working to improve its infrastructure, such as through the Santa Cruz Road Corridor Connection Project, and promote private sector development. Bolivia has also been exploring alternatives to gas exports and seeking to encourage private investment to accelerate growth, improve employment quality, and diversify its economy.

Bolivia still celebrates a national Day of the Sea

Bolivia might not have a coastline, but it does have a national Day of the Sea, or "Día del Mar", celebrated annually on 23 March. This day commemorates the loss of the country's coastline to Chile during the 1879-1883/1884 War of the Pacific. The dispute began when Chile invaded the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta due to a disagreement over taxes. As a result, Bolivia lost almost 50,000 square miles of territory, including its 250-mile coastline on the southern Pacific Ocean.

The Day of the Sea is a significant event in Bolivia, serving as a reminder of what they consider to be a historical injustice. It is also an opportunity to reiterate their claims for access to the Pacific Ocean. The day is marked by ceremonies across the nation, including a central event in La Paz's Plaza Abaroa, honouring war hero Eduardo Abaroa, who was shot and killed by Chilean forces in the Battle of Calama, the first battle of the War of the Pacific.

The loss of the coastline has had economic implications for Bolivia, as the country no longer has direct access to the natural resources of saltpeter and guano, which were important sources of nitrates used in explosives and fertilisers. Bolivia's former president, Eduardo Rodríguez Veltze, estimated that the country's annual GDP growth would be 20% higher if it still had access to international waters.

Despite the passage of time, Bolivia has not given up on its dream of restoring its access to the coast. In 2013, Bolivian President Evo Morales filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, demanding that Chile negotiate and return sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. However, the ICJ ruled against forcing Chile to enter negotiations, dealing a blow to Bolivia's aspirations.

Nevertheless, Bolivians remain determined, and the Day of the Sea continues to be a passionate and significant holiday in the country. It is a day when the nation unites to remember its past and reinforce its resolve to reclaim its connection to the sea.

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