Kast and Milei Reaffirm Chilean Sovereignty Over the Strait of Magellan, Issue Joint Declaration

President José Antonio Kast and Argentine President Javier Milei held a bilateral meeting in Santiago on September 3 following Kast's earlier visit to Magallanes, issuing a joint declaration that the legal regime of the Strait of Magellan is 'plenamente vigente y de carácter definitivo' under the 1881 Boundary Treaty and the 1984 Peace and Friendship Treaty — resolving the diplomatic dispute triggered by an Argentine Air Force general's remarks questioning Chilean sovereignty over the strait. Kast also called on the United Kingdom to resume dialogue over the Falklands/Malvinas, backing Argentina's claim, while Milei recognized Chilean sovereignty over the strait; the two governments additionally announced cooperation on mining integration, trade, energy, security and Antarctic policy. A Criteria poll published September 6 (fielded September 3–4) found the country split on Kast's decision not to press Milei to sign a document stating the strait 'corresponds exclusively to Chile' rather than being a 'shared space' — 43% disagreed with Kast's approach against 41% who supported it.