Bolivia is one of 45 landlocked countries
in the world. But there is something that sets it apart from the rest: It thinks it should have
a sovereign exit to the sea. In fact, since its independence
in 1825 Bolivia had access to the coast. Although at that time the limits
were diffuse in South America, few doubt that the country had control
up to the Pacific Ocean. It is estimated that they were
about 400 kilometers of shore around what today is
the Chilean region of Antofagasta. In the last quarter of the 19th century,
however, it lost these lands. And in this way,
it also resigned its exit to the sea. It was the consequence of the so-called War of the
Pacific, which occurred between 1879 and 1884. There, Chile militarily confronted with
Peru and Bolivia, which were allies. As it got the victory in the war, Chile
went on to dominate an extensive territory, that today is part of the country. However, since
over 100 years Bolivia claims that
a sovereign exit to the Pacific corresponds to it. It maintains that the treaty that ended the
war, in which it yields these territories, was signed in a disadvantaged position,
since it had been defeated. What were we doing? You were looking for me for something? Hey, Chilean, give me back the sea!
You took it from me, you usurped it! While the highland country has not had
success in its claim, this situation has produced
some curious facts. To start, it is so important
this topic for Bolivia that it is even found in the Constitution. In the last reform, in 2009,
an article about maritime claim was included. In there, it is maintained that the nation declares their inalienable and essential right over the territory that gives access to the Pacific Oceans and its maritime space. Tata and where do people have to go? If you want to know more about your housing
and find your home go to TocToc.com This Bolivian claim onto the Pacific obviously clashes with the interests of Chileans, who defend their territories. The links between the two countries
have gone through different stages, of more or less closeness,
although they have never been the best. Hello? Hello, good afternoon,
I'm calling for the issue of the house ... Speak Spanish, please.
I am not getting you. Since 1978, the two countries
have no diplomatic relations. That is, there are no Chilean ambassadors
in Bolivia or Bolivians in Chile. There are only consulates to attend
administrative issues Another guideline of the importance Bolivia gives it
to this issue is the development that the Navy has. While you might think that the maritime branch of the armed forces is not very developed or secondary, this is not the case. It has more than 5000 sailors that handle
patrolling rivers and lakes. They even guard borders,
like Titicaca Lake, with Peru. Just to get an idea, Do you remember the first Copa América
that Chile gain in its history, in 2015? One of the great heroes of the conquest and in charge of the penalty that defined
everything was Alexis Sánchez. Aleeeexisss! Goal!
Gooooooaal! F*cking chileans! They don't know how to play soccer these Chileans! What sons of b*tch
and they win the cup to us! All the finals we will lose?
*argentinean swearing* The soccer player was born in Tocopilla, a small
coastal town of northern Chile. Can you imagine, right? Sure, it's the area
that in the 19th century was dominated by Bolivia. So if the story had been different,
Alexis Sánchez would be Bolivian. Also, Chile and Peru
They would not be bordering countries. These two states have a historical
controversy regarding the origin of pisco. Peruvian pisco is the best in the world.
I've tried another pisco, from another country ... I will not mention the name.
Chile. Would the discussions about who invented this drink had ended? It seems even weirder than Alexis issue. But beyond anecdotal issues, the truth is that no exit to the sea
is also an economical problem. According to the World Bank, there is a link
between the countries without coast and less international trade, what has generated slower growth
and greater poverty. Returning to today, and beyond
Bolivia claiming this territory, it's true that it has other options
to get its way out to sea. The Port of Ilo, in Peru. In 1992, Peru and Bolivia signed a treaty, in which the Peruvians yielded
this port for 99 years. However, only in 2018, Bolivia
began to show interest in taking advantage of it. Puerto Busch, near the triple border
with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a very unpopulated area, but there is a
project to make a modern port whereby Bolivia can export its minerals through the Paraná basin
towards the Atlantic Ocean. Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have
offered to give concessions to Bolivia so it can export its merchandise by
the rivers that flow into the east. These alternatives would allow Bolivia to
trade more easily, although none of them would imply a coast
not a sovereign exit, as it claims. These were some of the most unusual consequences of Bolivia not having and exit to the sea If you reached until here, it would probably be a good idea to suscribe to Un Mundo Inmenso to keep knowing the most inexplicable places in our planet.
