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The original signatories were the 12 countries active in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–58: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [1] .
- [Antarctica for peaceful purposes only] 1. Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. There shall be prohibited, inter alia, any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, as well as the testing of any type of weapons.
- [freedom of scientific investigation to continue] Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end, as applied during the International Geophysical Year, shall continue, subject to the provisions of the present Treaty.
- [plans and results to be exchanged] 1. In order to promote international cooperation in scientific investigation in Antarctica, as provided for in Article II of the present Treaty, the Contracting Parties agree that, to the greatest extent feasible and practicable
- [territorial claims] 1. Nothing contained in the present Treaty shall be interpreted as: (a) a renunciation by any Contracting Party of previously asserted rights of or claims to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica;
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve nations that had been active during the IGY (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States and USSR).
Antarctic Treaty. Signatory Countries. The treaty had 12 original signatory nations, as of 2023 there are 56 signatory nations. Summary of the treaty | The Treaty in Full | The Madrid Protocol - environmental. The Treaty Nations - in date order of signing the treaty.
The 12 nations that signed the Antarctic Treaty on 1 December 1959 were Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
December 1, 1959. Participants: Argentina. Australia. France. Japan. New Zealand. Norway. South Africa. Soviet Union. United Kingdom. United States. (Show more) Antarctic Treaty, (Dec. 1, 1959), agreement signed by 12 nations, in which the Antarctic continent was made a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research.
By the mid-1900s, seven nations had made claims to sectors of Antarctic territory: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. These claims were not recognized by all nations. Some claims overlapped and began to be disputed, causing tension. Technicians working on an Antarctic ice core.
