The Antarctic Forum is an inter-governmental organization which aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of Antarctica and represent their interests (unlike the Antarctic Assembly, an organization which purely handles disputes and International Law). The forum was founded in March 1992 with the cooperation between Byrdia, Maudland, New Swabia, Ognia, Santiago, and the United Republic. By 2000, several non-Antarctic states became associates on behalf of their Antarctic territories. Bellinsgauzenia is the only Antarctic nation to have not applied for membership. After the dissolution of the Ross Dependency in September 2010, the newly formed states of Balleny and Ross and Scott took their place as associate states.
The Antarctic Forum acts much like the Pacific Islands Forum.
Membership
Member states
- File:Flag of Byrdia.svg Byrdia
- File:Flag of Maudland.svg Maudland
- New Swabia
- Ognia
- File:Flag of Santiago.svg Santiago
- United Republic
Associate members
- Australia (on behalf of New Vestfold)
- France (on behalf of Kerguelen)
- New Zealand (on behalf of Balleny and Ross and Scott)
- United Kingdom (on behalf of Eduarda)