CLEARING MYTHS: LATIN AMERICA AND CHILE DURING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC WAR

Abstract

The Chilean actions during the South Atlantic War (1982) are a topic discussed in the history of Latin American international relations. It is also presented from a partial and biased approach by Argentinian historiography, as a ‘betrayal’ to Chilean-Argentinian ‘friendship’ and to the regional accord around the Malvinas issue. The attitude of Chile in 1982 is an underlying issue in the visions in both countries.

This approach is based on two myths that need to be clarified: the Latin American support to Argentinian military action, and the exceptionality of Chilean’s behavior. Subsequently, the scope of the Chilean’s actions and the causes that determined them will be
clarify in this article.