The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington by the twelve countries whose scientists worked in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year

International Treaty Environment & Climate Polity & Governance

The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington by the twelve countries whose scientists worked in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year

Background

The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58.
It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded to by many other nations.
Article I provides that Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.
Article II continues freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation towards that end, and Article III requires scientific observations and results from Antarctica to be exchanged and made freely available.
Seven of the signatories, namely Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, had territorial claims that were sometimes overlapping, and other countries do not recognise any claims.
Article IV preserves the status quo: no new claim, and no enlargement of an existing claim, to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica may be asserted while the Treaty is in force.
Under Article VII all areas of Antarctica, including all stations, installations and equipment within those areas, are open at all times to inspection.

Signed: 1 December 1959, Washington Original signatories: 12 Signatories with territorial claims: 7 Entry into force: 1961

Why it matters for exams: The Antarctic Treaty is the standard example of a demilitarised, science-only regime, and examiners ask for its place of signature, the number of original signatories and the effect of Article IV on territorial claims.

Kerala PSCUPSCSSC

8 October 2026 Source: Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty

In plain words

International Geophysical Year A coordinated worldwide programme of earth science observations — The 1957-58 programme brought scientists from many countries to Antarctica and led directly to the Treaty negotiations.

Article IV The status quo provision of the Antarctic Treaty — It freezes territorial claims: nothing done while the Treaty is in force supports or denies a claim, and no new claim may be made.