Why did Chile remain wary of Argentina during the Falkland Islands War?

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Map showing the Falkland Islands War of 1982, with the left inset displaying southern South America, highlighting Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Argentine air force and naval bases, and the British 200-mile war zone. The main map details West and East Falkland, marking Argentine troop concentrations, areas of conflict, and the path of the British advance toward Stanley, along with key settlements and landing sites. — Falkland Islands War The Falkland Islands War zone (left) and route of British landing forces (right).

During the Falkland Islands War, Chile remained wary of Argentina primarily due to a long-standing and unresolved territorial dispute over islands in the Beagle Channel.1

This tension, which had nearly escalated into a full-scale war between the two nations in 1978, created a significant security concern for Chile. Because of this ongoing conflict, Chile maintained a state of military alert against its neighbor throughout the 1982 war. This perceived threat from Chile was strategically significant, as it prompted the Argentine military to keep the majority of its elite troops stationed on the mainland, distant from the Falklands theatre, rather than deploying them to the islands.21