Scramble for Antarctica
The Scramble for Antarctica is the division of the frozen continent of Antarctica into spheres of power by the world's three superpowers as well as the Republic of Chile and the Argentine Republic, involving competition for resources and individual tests. As the last frontier on the planet Earth, Antarctica has become a flashpoint for the three superpowers of the Cold War. Its name recalls the Scramble for Africa of the late 19th century in that there are multiple participants seeking to stake their claim on the frozen continent.
Course
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Argentina began flag-planting and naval operations to the islands, inlets and ice sheets of Antarctica. They were largely met with no resistance and achieved their objectives but came into conflict with Chile due to the overlapping claims, the Argentines' aggressive expansionism and the difficulties in communication between President Juan Domingo Perón and more 'adventurous' officers.
The first shots in Antarctic history were fired in February 1952. Chilean surveyors, searching for resource deposits on an archipelago that was abandoned by the United Kingdom after its defeat in World War II, were fired on by Argentine military personnel, which led to several fatalities. Both nations deploy flotillas to the region in the summer of 1952. While the Organization of Free Nations publicly called for peace, the Greater Germanic Reich publicly issues its support for Argentina, to the great consternation of all parties involved, including Perón. Perón, furious with his officers for starting what is increasingly turning into a major diplomatic crisis, appealed to his Chilean counterparts to allow international mediation and a legally binding settlement.
Talks between the great powers over the division of Antarctica began in November 1952. Germany was the first to stake their claim to New Swabia, followed by the Empire of Japan claiming Marie Byrd Land and dispatching troops to secure the land before the Americans could do anything. In response, the United States of America, New Zealand and Australia consolidated their own claims, as well as Adélie Land, which was seized from the French State, into the OFN Antarctic Administration. Chile and Argentina both agreed in principle to the prospect of international arbitration, but neither side expected the other to respect the borders once the fleets of the great powers leave. The hastily finished negotiations between the two South American countries ended in victory for Argentina, who secured sovereignty over the Trinity Peninsula and many of the surrounding islands.