AsAntarctica has never been permanently settled by humans, there has historically been littlemilitary activity in the Antarctic. TheAntarctic Treaty, which came into effect on June 23, 1961, bans military activity from the continent. Military personnel and equipment may only be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purposes, such as delivering supplies.[1]
The Antarctic Treaty specifically prohibits military activity on land orice shelves below 60°S. While the use ofnuclear weapons is absolutely prohibited, the Treaty does not apply to naval activity within these bounds (in theSouthern Ocean) so long as it takes place on thehigh seas.
Military forces from many countries have provided support to scientific expeditions and bases in Antarctica. Notable operations and expeditions have included:
John Keegan andAndrew Wheatcroft, in their 1986 bookZones of Conflict: An Atlas of Future Wars, make the point that strategic interests in Antarctica derive from two causes: economic and strategic. Antarctica has great potential economic value, in terms of mineral and oil resources. Strategically, there was continuing concern about keeping theCape Horn route available for free passage during the Cold War, as, among other things, U.S. aircraft carriers cannot pass through thePanama Canal. TheFalkland Islands, Keegan and Wheatcroft go on to say, dominate theDrake Passage, the 'stretch of stormy water separating South America from the Antarctic'. This was a less publicised factor during theFalklands War.[7]
However, with the dissolution of theSoviet Union, and increasing competition for fossil fuel resources, the 'economic' rather than the 'strategic' rationale will likely grow more important in the early twenty-first century.[8]
