PRESIDENT ARCE VOWS CONTINUED FIGHT FOR BOLIVIA’S SEA ACCESS-Says Bolivia will enter a new stage in relations with Chile
Bolivia commemorated the 146th anniversary of the loss of its coastline with a civic-military parade on Sunday (March 23), with President Luis Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca both in attendance.
Bolivia lost its access to the sea after the War of the Pacific, a conflict between Chile and a Bolivian-Peruvian alliance between 1879 to 1884.
It resulted in Chile’s victory and acquisition of resource-rich territories from Peru and Bolivia in the Atacama Desert – but also left Bolivia landlocked.
During the Day of the Sea event, President Arce announced plans to dissolve the Strategic Maritime Vindication Directorate (Diremar) and evaluate the processes at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Despite the ICJ ruling that Chile is not obligated to negotiate sovereign access to the sea, Arce affirmed Bolivia’s continued pursuit of its maritime rights through dialogue and international law.
The president emphasised the importance of maintaining diplomatic efforts to secure Bolivia’s access to the Pacific Ocean.
