Law

Key Facts at a Glance International Treaty Framework Protecting Antarctica Antarctica is governed by a cooperative international regime known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). The cornerstone is the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, which set aside Antarctica for peaceful purposes and scientific research. Under this treaty, no country can claim new sovereignty there, and all territorial claims are held in abeyance. Notably, the Treaty allows any signatory nation to send observers and conduct inspections anywhere in Antarctica (including aerial inspections) to ensure compliance frontiersin.org. This open-access principle means, for example, countries can overfly each other’s research stations – a provision