International
Poll: Nearly 70% Of Chileans Considers Falkland Islands British
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A new poll highlights deep public skepticism toward Argentina after recent sovereignty disputes and President Milei's visit.
The Chilean market research and public opinion firm Cadem conducted a survey on relations between Chile and Argentina following the controversial statements made by Argentine President Javier Milei during his visit to Chile.
The poll revealed that 68% of Chileans consider the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) to be British territory, and 69% believe that Argentina has territorial ambitions, following instances where Argentine authorities and military personnel cast doubt on Chile's absolute sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan.
Meanwhile, 54% of respondents believe that President José Antonio Kast should demand that President Milei repeal the decree in which he erroneously claims that the Strait of Magellan is a shared space between the two countries for joint exploration and control. This comes despite the fact that both leaders recently signed a declaration in which the Argentine government ratified that Chile possesses absolute sovereignty over the Strait, confirming the full and definitive validity of the 1881 Boundary Treaty and the 1984 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Meanwhile, the Chilean government reiterated its support for Argentina's legitimate sovereignty rights over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), leading to 62% of respondents disagreeing with the President's stance.
Furthermore, 57% consider President Milei's statements to be a grave disrespect, in which he vindicated the coup d'état against socialist President Salvador Allende that occurred on September 11, 1973, and labeled the left as "filthy leftists" (zurdos mugrosos) during his participation in the far-right Forum of Madrid held in the Chilean capital of Santiago.
On the other hand, 60% of respondents view Argentina as an unreliable partner, while the most trusted countries are Japan (83%), followed by Canada (80%) and England (78%).
Regarding commercial relations, 60% consider that Chile should prioritize its relations with China, followed by the European Union (49%), Canada (46%), Australia and New Zealand (37%), India and Southeast Asia (37%), Latin America (37%), and the US (32%).
Image: Falkland Islands TV
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