Overview

• On July 8, Boric used his official X account to assert that Puerto Williams, home to public hospitals, schools and scientific research centers, is the world’s southernmost city.
• Chile’s National Statistics Institute recognized Puerto Williams as a city in 2019 despite its roughly 2,000 inhabitants, a status Argentine observers dispute as an administrative settlement.
• Ushuaia, with more than 82,500 residents, maintains its claim to the title based on population size and municipal governance.
• The contest highlights conflicting criteria—Chile emphasises institutional infrastructure while Argentina cites population thresholds defined by the Real Academia Española.
• The exchange underscores the role of digital platforms in modern statecraft and taps into enduring national pride in both countries.