Bolivia/Chile Pacific Access

Flickr Image by alonso_inostrosa

Bolivia and its quest to regain access to the sea.

• Bolivia demands the unconditional return of land annexed by Chile after the War of the Pacific (1879-1883) in order to regain access to the sea.
• Lingering hostility, stubbornness on both sides, and the history of the disputed region makes talks between the two nations nearly impossible.
• If Bolivia wants to regain access to the sea, it will eventually have to compromise and agree to terms it deems unacceptable at this moment.

On March 23, 2011, as the latest move in the longstanding territorial dispute between Bolivia and Chile, Bolivia intensified pressure on Chile in order to secure for itself “free and sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.”[1] It did so by threatening to bring a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located in The Hague.  The War of the Pacific, fought 1879-1883 between Bolivia and Peru on one side and Chile (the eventual winner) on the other, left a bitter legacy that has shrouded the region for decades.  Bolivia has insisted on the unconditional return of a portion of annexed land, hoping to regain its access to the sea.  Despite recent efforts by Bolivia and Chile to calm the two countries’ historically truculent relationship, each nation’s persistent reluctance to resolve outstanding conflicts has stalled talks.  In response to what La Paz perceives as hostile action, a group of Chilean senators threatened to suspend bilateral talks if Bolivia does, indeed, take the case before the ICJ.

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