On November 28, the official start of the 2025/2026 Summer Antarctic Campaign took place, an operation that reaffirms Argentina’s commitment to scientific research and conservation in the white continent.
The event was attended by national authorities and representatives of organizations related to defense, diplomacy, and environmental management.
Authorities present at the launch
Among the attendees were:
- Luis Petri, Minister of Defense of the Nation.
- Carlos Presti, the next head of the Portfolio.
- Pablo Quirno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship.
- Paola Di Chiaro, Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica, and South Atlantic.
- Sergio Álvarez, President of National Parks.
- Guillermo Díaz Cornejo, Chief of Staff of the organization.
- Walter Scibilia, Board Member.
- Raúl Chiesa, National Director of Marine Protected Areas.
Also present were the National Director of the Antarctic, Cynthia Hotton, the Director of the Argentine Antarctic Institute, Walter Mc Cormack, and the Commander of the Joint Antarctic Command, Rear Admiral Maximiliano Mangiaterra.
Scientific and operational missions
Within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the National Parks Administration (APN) and the Argentine Antarctic Institute (IAA), agent Nahuel Ravina will depart on the Icebreaker Almirante Irizar to Orcadas Base.
His mission includes operational and technical-scientific tasks related to the study in the Namuncurá-Banco Burdwood and Yaganes Marine Protected Areas, as well as research in Antarctic waters. These actions will be carried out under the comprehensive coordination of the Joint Antarctic Command (COCOANTAR) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces.
During the period, which will extend until January 2026, the agent will provide logistical support and collaborate in conservation and research programs, consolidating the Argentine institutional presence in Antarctica.
A historic presence since 1904
Argentina has maintained a presence in Antarctica since 1904, when expert Francisco Pascasio Moreno managed the acquisition of a Swedish meteorological station on Laurie Island, giving rise to Orcadas Base, the first of the 13 bases the country has on the continent.
In the 1990s, through the agreement between the APN and the IAA, Argentina became the first and only country to send park rangers continuously to Antarctica, maintaining an uninterrupted presence for over 30 years.
Ongoing research projects
The Argentine Antarctic Institute develops multiple scientific projects, including:
- Biological and geophysical studies.
- Research on botany and macroalgae.
- Censuses of birds and mammals.
- Ecosystem monitoring.
- Survey of historical heritage.
APN agents also perform key functions in safety in rugged areas, tourist reception, equipment control, communications, logistics, and rescue.
The 2025/2026 Summer Antarctic Campaign reaffirms Argentina’s commitment to scientific research, environmental conservation, and international cooperation in the white continent. With more than a century of uninterrupted presence, the country consolidates itself as a key player in the protection of Antarctic ecosystems and in generating knowledge to face the global challenges of climate change.
