At the 10th Hemispheric Security Conference (HSC 2025), co-organized by Fundación TAEDA and Florida International University (FIU) in Miami on May 12–13, the panel “Strategic Importance of Antarctica” highlighted the continent’s growing geopolitical relevance.
Moderated by our director, Yanina Kogan, the panel featured Juan Ignacio Cánepa, Academic Secretary of Fundación TAEDA; retired Argentine Colonel Carlos Flesia; and Chilean analyst Juan Pablo Toro, Executive Director of AthenaLab.
The discussion addressed the possible review of the Madrid Protocol in 2048, which currently prohibits mineral resource exploitation in Antarctica. Cánepa warned that the request of just one signatory country would be enough to trigger a debate, potentially altering the future of the continent.
Flesia emphasized the lack of enforcement power within the Antarctic system, noting that compliance depends solely on the goodwill of participating nations. He also underlined the geopolitical advantage of Argentina and Chile due to their proximity to the continent, which enables them to project capabilities in science, logistics, and sustainable fuel production.
Toro, in turn, warned about the growing interest of new global actors in Antarctica, mentioning programs from countries such as Turkey and Iran. He stressed the need for greater international attention to preserve the continent’s governance.
