Bolivia's Coastline: Lost To Chile, Impacting The Country's Future

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America that lost its coastline during the War of the Pacific, which took place between 1879 and 1883. The war was fought between Bolivia, Chile and Peru, and resulted in Bolivia losing almost 50,000 square miles of its territory, including its 250-mile coastline on the southern Pacific Ocean. This loss has had a significant impact on Bolivia's economy and national identity, with the country still seeking to regain its shoreline.

Bolivia ceded its 250-mile coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific

Bolivia's loss of its coastline is a result of the War of the Pacific, which was fought between Chile and an alliance of Bolivia and Peru from 1879 to 1884. The war was sparked by a dispute over taxes between Bolivia and Chile, with the former increasing taxes on a Chilean mining company in violation of a boundary treaty. This led to a diplomatic crisis and eventually war, revealing a secret alliance between Bolivia and Peru. Chile was victorious in the war, gaining significant mineral-rich territory, including the Bolivian department of Litoral, which turned Bolivia into a landlocked country.

The conflict has its roots in the dispute between Bolivia and Chile over the Atacama Desert, which dates back to their independence from the Spanish Empire in the 19th century. The exact borders were unclear, and both countries claimed access to the sea. During the War of the Pacific, Chile invaded the Bolivian port city of Antofagasta, and within four years, it had taken almost 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including its 250-mile coastline.

Bolivia ceded its coastline to Chile as part of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1904. In return, Chile agreed to provide Bolivia with "`fullest and freest` commercial access to ports" and built a railroad connecting the Bolivian capital of La Paz with the port of Arica. However, tensions between the two countries have persisted, with Bolivia still seeking sovereign access to the sea.

Bolivia has a navy, established in 1963, despite being landlocked

Bolivia has a navy, the Armada Boliviana, established in 1963, despite being a landlocked country. The country ceded its entire 250-mile coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific, which lasted from 1879 to 1883. This loss is considered a "historical injustice" by Bolivians, who continue to commemorate the official Day of the Sea each March.

The Bolivian Navy was initially established as a "river force" using cast-off vessels from the US and China. Today, its fleet includes speedboats, tankers, and other vessels, with a total of 5,000 troops. While the navy does not have access to the ocean, it navigates the country's Amazonian rivers and Lake Titicaca, a 3,200-square-mile body of water more than two miles above sea level. The navy's duties include fighting drug traffickers, delivering medical supplies to remote communities, and responding to disasters.

Bolivia has not given up on regaining its shoreline and has argued that the lack of direct access to the sea has hurt its economy. In 2013, the Bolivian government brought its grievance to the International Court of Justice, hoping to negotiate with Chile for the return of its coastline. This effort was ultimately unsuccessful, with the Court ruling against forcing Chile to negotiate in 2018. Despite this setback, Bolivia's dream of restoring its access to the coast remains alive, with President Luis Arce referring to the dispute as an "open and pending" issue.

Bolivia has taken Chile to court over the issue, but the ruling was in Chile's favour

Bolivia has taken its case for a route to the sea to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, demanding that Chile negotiate to grant it a corridor to the Pacific Ocean. The ICJ's ruling on this matter was made in 2018, and it ultimately sided with Chile, stating that the country was not obliged to negotiate granting Bolivia sea access.

The dispute between Bolivia and Chile has its roots in the 1800s, with both countries holding differing views on the territory inherited from the Spanish Empire. In 1879, Chile invaded the Antofagasta port city, which was part of Bolivia at the time, and within four years had annexed almost 50,000 square miles of Bolivian territory, including its 250-mile coastline. Bolivia and Chile signed a peace treaty in 1904, with Bolivia accepting the loss of its coastline in return for "fullest and freest" commercial access to the port. However, Bolivia has always maintained its dream of regaining access to the sea, with the issue remaining a significant point of tension between the two nations.

In 2013, Bolivian President Evo Morales filed a lawsuit at the ICJ, arguing that Chile had not kept diplomatic promises and obligations under international law to negotiate sea access. Bolivia claimed that Chile was legally obliged to provide it with a land corridor and a port under its control. Chile, however, maintained that the issue had been settled by the 1904 peace treaty and that any further discussions would be a matter of diplomacy rather than legal obligation.

The ICJ's ruling in October 2018 sided with Chile, stating that it was not obliged to enter into negotiations with Bolivia over sea access. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera celebrated the decision, while President Evo Morales expressed his disappointment, stating that "the Bolivian people's fight continues" and that they would "never give up on our sovereign route to the sea."

The dispute between Bolivia and Chile remains unresolved, with the ICJ's ruling failing to bring about a resolution to the long-standing tensions between the two nations.

Bolivia has a national day to commemorate the loss of its coastline

Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific, which lasted from 1879 to 1883 (or 1884, according to some sources). The loss of the 250-mile stretch of the Pacific coast was a result of a dispute over taxes with Chile, which invaded the Antofagasta port city on its northern border with Bolivia.

Every year on March 23, Bolivia commemorates the loss of its coastline with a national holiday called "Día Del Mar" or "Day of the Sea". The date was chosen to honour Eduardo Abaroa, a Bolivian war hero who was shot and killed by Chilean forces in the Battle of Calama (also called the Battle of Topáter), the first battle in the War of the Pacific. Abaroa's last words, "Surrender? Your grandmother should surrender!", have become an iconic phrase in Bolivia.

The Day of the Sea is an occasion for Bolivians to come together and rally for the country's determination to reclaim access to the Pacific Ocean. The loss of the coastline is considered a "historical injustice" and an affront to national pride. Schools, media, and public institutions use the day to commemorate the loss and to revive the collective desire for its return. The country's navy, "Armada Boliviana", which still exists despite Bolivia being landlocked, also takes part in the events.

In recent years, Bolivia has taken Chile to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to force negotiations on regaining access to the sea. However, the ICJ ruled against Bolivia, stating that Chile cannot be forced to negotiate. Despite this setback, Bolivia's President Luis Arce has indicated that the dispute is still an "open and pending" issue.

Bolivia's economy has been impacted by its lack of coastline

The loss of its coastline has resulted in Bolivia relying on neighbouring countries for maritime trade. Despite having access to Chilean ports, as per the 1904 peace treaty, Bolivia argues that its goods are subjected to unfair Chilean checks, and that it still has to pay for transit to reach the ports. This has created tensions between the two countries, with Bolivia taking Chile to the International Court of Justice in 2013 to force negotiations for the return of its shoreline.

Bolivia's economy is also impacted by the loss of potential revenue from natural resources found in coastal areas, such as mineral deposits. During the War of the Pacific, Chile gained control of valuable nitrate, copper, and silver deposits in the Bolivian coastline, which has contributed to Chile's economic growth.

The lack of coastline also affects Bolivia's ability to export raw materials, as the cost of transport and customs increases. Additionally, Bolivia's export-oriented economic system no longer aligns with its geographic reality, further impacting its economic development.

The Bolivian government has made efforts to compensate for the lack of coastline by establishing a navy in 1963, acquiring patrol boats, speedboats, tankers, and other vessels. However, the impact of the lost coastline on Bolivia's economy continues to be a source of tension and a matter of national pride for the country.

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