Territorial cession as a response to Bolivia’s maritime demands: precedents and possibilities

Abstract

The issue of access to the sea for Bolivia stands out as a matter that is once more up for discussion. However, beyond this, there has been no substantial progress in the field to achieve a concrete solution to the Bolivian request. Thus, in the first half of 2011, Bolivia decided to change its strategy of open dialogue with Chile by creating the Directorate for Maritime Concession, with the aim of presenting its claim of access to the Pacific Ocean before international tribunals. In this context, this article presents an analysis of a possible territorial cession in favor of Bolivia through a Corridor north of the Arica-Parinacota region as an alternative to the Bolivian demand. To do this, the text addresses from a historical perspective the course of the idea of territorial cession as a solution to the “maritime issue” and analyzes from a contemporary viewpoint the implications of such a measure for Chile.