Chile's Interest in the Falkland Islands Dispute

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner met with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on March 15, just days after her meeting with British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jeremy Browne. In both meetings, Argentina's claim of sovereignty over the British Falkland Islands (known in Argentina as the Malvinas) was the topic of discussion. The United Kingdom and Argentina have been courting Chile's support in the long-standing bilateral dispute because Chile is the only country in the Southern Cone with a vested interest in the United Kingdom's maintaining control over the Falklands. Tension has been rising between Argentina and the United Kingdom in the run-up to April 2, the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War. Chile, which has its own territorial disputes with neighboring countries, does not wish to see border changes in its region, but it also must take care not to upset relations with a regional player....