Does the US Own Any Part of Antarctica? No.

The United States does not own any territory in Antarctica.

The Legal Framework: Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)

• Antarctic Treaty (signed 1959, entered force 1961): 56 parties (2024), including US, Russia, China, UK, Argentina, Australia, etc.
• Key Provisions (Art. IV): **Freezes all territorial sovereignty claims.** No new claims, no enlargement of existing claims. Signatories (including 7 claimants: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, UK) **neither recognize nor dispute** each other's claims.
• US Position: **Reserves the right to make a claim** (Art. IV.1(c)) but **has not made one**. Does not recognize others' claims.

US Presence in Antarctica (Not Ownership)

• 3 Year-Round Stations (NSF/USAP):
  • McMurdo Station (Ross Island, 77°S) — logistics hub, ~1,000 summer / 150 winter.
  • Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (90°S) — astrophysics, atmospheric, ~150 summer / 40 winter.
  • Palmer Station (Anvers Island, 64°S) — marine biology, ~40 summer / 10 winter.
• Field Camps: Dozens seasonal (WAIS Divide, Thwaites, Allan Hills, etc.).
• Research Focus: Climate, ice cores, astronomy (CMB, neutrinos), genomics, geology, space weather.
• Logistics: LC-130 ski-planes (NYANG), C-17 (USAF), research vessels (Nathaniel B. Palmer, Laurence M. Gould).

Why No Claim?

• **Strategic:** Avoid militarization, preserve science freedom, prevent Cold War flashpoint.
• **Economic:** No proven exploitable minerals (Madrid Protocol 1991 bans mining).
• **Normative:** Lead by example; treaty model for outer space (OST 1967).

Other Claimants' Claims (Frozen)

• Argentina (Argentine Antarctica), Australia (AAT), Chile (Chilean Antarctic Territory), France (Adélie Land), NZ (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land + Peter I), UK (British Antarctic Territory).
• Overlaps: Argentina/Chile/UK (Antarctic Peninsula).

Antarctica remains **terra nullius** under international governance — a continent for **peace and science**, not sovereignty.