Antarctic Treaty in 21st century
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959.
The signatories had no idea how successful it would be.
The leaders agreed to keep the uninhabited continent free of war, weapons and nuclear waste, and stipulated that the Antarctic region - 98% of which is ice - should be used exclusively for international science and no country should be allowed to claim sovereignty over it.
In the decades since, further regulations preventing mineral extraction and oil drilling have turned Antarctica into the world's largest protected area.
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A significant milestone was the signing of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty in 1991.
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In the new century, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries decided to establish a secretariat, named ATCM.
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
to coordinate Antarctic affairs, in 2003.
ATCM, attended by representatives from the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries, is the decision-making body of the Antarctic Treaty system, and all Antarctic affairs are decided through joint consultations by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries.
Each Consultative Country has the right of veto.
While the Antarctic Treaty puts forward governance requirements for Antarctic from several major aspects, it also stipulates that the treaty does not prohibit the use of military personnel or military equipment for scientific research or any other peaceful purposes.
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What has been happening in the Antarctic, and what roles are the Antarctic Treaty and ATCM been playing in regulating Antarctic affairs in the 21st century?
Well, dozens of countries have established research stations there; more countries are eager to try, and the battle for Antarctica has become increasingly fierce.
Fifty countries, including Russia, China and the United States, have signed the Antarctic Treaty and its accompanying agreements, that ban mine exploration.
But the fact that geologists are often at the center of the stage of research clearly shows that governments around the world are eager to understand what is buried under the Antarctic ice and snow.
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In May of 2018, the 53 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty held their annual meeting in Buenos Aires and reached many agreements, such as new regulations on the use of drones and guidelines for site management, but the most difficult issues such as what to do if a country violates treaty rules appear to have never been resolved.
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Scientists and diplomats are increasingly concerned that existing systems will not be able to cope with new pressures on many new Antarctic related issues.
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However, it seems that there haven't been any major disputes or violations of the Antarctic Treaty that have led to significant international incidents in the 21st century.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: When was the Antarctic Treaty signed?
A: In 1959.

Q: What was the general consensus of the leaders who signed the Treaty?
A: The Antarctic region should be used exclusively for international science and no country should be allowed to claim sovereignty over it.

Q: Are there specific regulations in the framework of the Treaty that prevent mineral extraction and oil drilling?
A: Yes, in the decades since the signing of the Treaty, further regulations were made on those issues.

Q: What is ATCM and when was it established?
A: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, established in 2003.

Q: Who attended ATCM?
A: ATCM is attended by representatives from the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries.

Q: Is ATCM a decision making body?
A: Yes, decisions are made through joint consultations by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries

Q: Do Antarctic Treaty Consultative Countries have vito power?
A: Yes, any one consultative country can veto a decision.

Q: What are some of the most recent agreements among the consultative countries?
A: Regulations on the use of drones, guidelines for discarded site facility management.

Q: Has there been any progress concerning what can be done if a country violates treaty rules?
A: No, this issue appears to have never been resolved.

Q: Are there any major cases of disputes or violations that resort to theTreaty in the 21st century?
A: No.