Santiago (Chile) (AFP) – Chile and Belgium agreed on Friday to join their candidacies to compete against China in the quest to host the High Seas Agreement, considered essential to protect at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, they reported in a joint statement.

First modification: 11/09/2026 - 10:17

The proposal contemplates that the Chilean Valparaíso, a port city about 120 km from the capital, will be the headquarters of the treaty, while Brussels will host an office in charge of exchanging information with the rest of the countries.

The High Seas Agreement (BBNJ), in force from 2026, will have tasks such as creating management tools for marine protected areas and environmental impact assessments for high seas activities.

Its headquarters will be defined in January. More than 80 countries have joined this initiative.

"Chile and Belgium give maximum importance to the care of the oceans. We demonstrate this with actions. Chile was the second country in the world and the first in America to be part of the agreement," said Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, in a message sent to AFP.

Only 1.6% of international waters, a gigantic area that represents nearly half of the planet and more than 60% of the oceans, are protected, according to the Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The high seas zone begins where the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of States end and, therefore, is not under any state jurisdiction.

© 2026 AFP

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