How Bolivia Lost Its Access To The Sea

Bolivia, a landlocked country in South America, has persistently sought to reclaim its access to the ocean, which it lost to Chile following the War of the Pacific in the late 19th century. The conflict, which lasted from 1879 to 1883, resulted in Chile annexing a significant portion of Bolivian land, including 400km of coastline. This loss has had a profound impact on Bolivia's national identity and politics, with the country celebrating the Day of the Sea annually and pursuing diplomatic and legal avenues to restore its maritime access. Despite rulings by the International Court of Justice in Chile's favour, Bolivia continues to aspire for a sovereign route to the sea.

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, which prohibited tax increases for mining. Chile protested and requested international arbitration, but Bolivia considered it an internal issue. In response, Chile insisted that Bolivia's actions breached the treaty and that the territorial borders were no longer settled. Bolivia rescinded the license of the Chilean company, seized its assets, and put them up for auction. On the day of the auction, 14 February 1879, Chile's armed forces occupied the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta.

War was declared between Bolivia and Chile on 1 March 1879, and between Chile and Peru on 5 April 1879, with Peru joining Bolivia due to a secret alliance. Battles were fought in the Pacific Ocean, the Atacama Desert, the Peruvian deserts, and the mountainous interior of Peru. The war ended with victory for Chile, which gained significant resource-rich territory from Peru and Bolivia. Bolivia became a landlocked country, ceding its coastal department of Litoral to Chile.

The Day of the Sea

Bolivia's "Day of the Sea" or "Día del Mar" is an annual celebration commemorating the loss of its coastal Litoral Province to Chile during the 1879-1883/1884 War of the Pacific. Held on 23 March, the date marks the anniversary of the Battle of Topáter, the first combat of the war, which took place on 23 March 1879.

The War of the Pacific

Bolivia's access to the sea was lost in the War of the Pacific, which was fought between Bolivia and Peru against Chile. The war was sparked by a dispute over taxes, when Bolivia raised taxes on a Chilean-British company based on its coastline by 10 cents. Chile, backed by the British, responded by invading the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta. Within four years, Chile had seized almost 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including its 250-mile coastline on the southern Pacific Ocean.

Día del Mar

Recent Developments

Bolivia has continued to pursue access to the sea in recent years, filing an official plea before the International Court of Justice in 2013. However, judges at The Hague announced in 2018 that Chile could not be forced into negotiations on the matter. Despite this setback, Bolivia's president at the time, Evo Morales, vowed to continue the fight, stating, "We will never give up on our sovereign route to the sea."

Bolivia's Navy

Although Bolivia is landlocked, the Navy exists to keep alive the hope of recovering its coast, which was lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883). The recovery of its coast is a matter of honour in Bolivia, influencing many modern-day political actions and trade decisions. The Navy takes part in parades and government functions, particularly the Día del Mar (Day of the Sea), during which Bolivia re-vindicates its claim for an unspecified sovereign access to the sea.

The Navy's work includes patrolling waterways to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking, delivering supplies to remote communities, and responding to disasters. It also trains with the Argentine Navy and has taken part in a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Bolivia's International Court Case

In 2013, Bolivia's President Evo Morales filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to force Chile to negotiate the handover of some of its land. Bolivia framed the suit as an economic matter, with the country's representatives arguing that Bolivia's GDP growth would be 20% higher if it still had a route to international waters.

In 2018, the ICJ ruled against forcing Chile to negotiate, and Chilean President Sebastian Piñera celebrated the ruling, while Morales stated that Bolivia's "fight continues".

In addition to the dispute with Chile, Bolivia has also taken Israel to the ICJ, intervening in a case brought by South Africa. Bolivia has accused Israel of perpetrating "genocidal acts" in violation of the Genocide Convention in its war on Gaza. Bolivia has emphasised the tragic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and highlighted Israel's alleged non-compliance with previous ICJ orders regarding provisional measures aimed at protecting Palestinian civilians.

Chile's Refusal to Negotiate

Historical Context

Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1825 and initially controlled the Atacama Desert, granting it direct access to the Pacific Ocean. However, disputes over natural resources and taxation led to the War of the Pacific in 1879, with Bolivia and Peru on one side and Chile on the other. As a result of this conflict, Bolivia lost its entire coastline to Chile, a loss that was formalized in the Treaty of Ancón and the Treaty of Valparaíso.

Chile's Position

Chile has consistently maintained that it is not obligated to negotiate with Bolivia on restoring its access to the Pacific Ocean. This stance was reinforced by the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two countries, which established the current borders and granted Bolivia free trade rights at Chilean ports. Chile has argued that this treaty settled all border-related issues and that Bolivia has no right to sovereign access to the sea.

International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ruling

In 2013, Bolivia brought a case against Chile to the ICJ, seeking a ruling that would oblige Chile to negotiate and grant Bolivia sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. However, in 2018, the ICJ rejected Bolivia's arguments, finding that Chile was under no legal obligation to enter such negotiations. The court's decision was based on an analysis of various bilateral agreements, declarations, and other relevant factors, ultimately concluding that there was no intent to create a binding obligation on Chile to negotiate.

Impact on Relations

The dispute over maritime access has significantly impacted the relationship between Chile and Bolivia. Bolivia severed full diplomatic relations with Chile in 1978 due to a lack of progress in negotiations. While there have been occasional attempts to resolve the issue, tensions persist, and the two countries currently maintain relations only at the consular level.

Ongoing Aspirations

Despite the ICJ ruling, Bolivia continues to aspire for sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean. President Evo Morales made this issue a key part of his administration and reelection efforts. Bolivia has explored alternative trade routes through Peru and Brazil, and there have been discussions about potential territorial swaps or shared sovereignty arrangements with neighboring countries.

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