Settling the Chile-Peru Maritime Border

Via the BBC:  Peru-Chile border defined by UN court at The Hague

The United Nations’ highest court has defined the maritime boundary between Peru and Chile after an acrimonious dispute between the two neighbours.

Judges at The Hague awarded Peru parts of the Pacific Ocean but kept rich fishing grounds in Chilean hands.

At stake were 38,000 square kilometres (14,670 square miles) of ocean and some of the world’s richest fishing grounds.

[…]

Both countries have pledged to abide by The Hague ruling.

Maritime borders aren’t exactly the sexiest of topics, but I find this interesting because it shows international institutions in operation (and successfully so).  Beats shooting at one another to settled the dispute.

(Of course, poor Bolivia wept quietly in the corner, since Chile took the land that forms the basis for this maritime border via a shooting war back in the late 19th Century).

FILED UNDER: Latin America, World Politics, ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Neil Hudelson says:

    Well, Bolivia does technically have some coast line now.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/20/peru-gives-bolivia-pacific-shore

  2. RGardner says:

    Another disputed international boundary is in the Dixon Entrance, between the USA and Canada near Ketchikan and the Queen Charlotte Islands. There are five boundary disputes between the USA and Canada.

  3. Leonel says:

    I wait that peace in Perú and Chile. I am from Perú and living here(Perú). 🙂