Colombia has mounted a defense against Sea Search Armada's $10 billion claim over the San José Galleon by submitting a 439-page Defense Memorial to the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The National Agency for Legal Defense of the State of Colombia issued the defense memorial in response to the lawsuit filed by the American treasure hunter regarding the shipwreck, as stated in El Tiempo.
Colombia's defense includes nine expert opinions and five testimonial statements. Among the expert testimonies are two legal experts, two underwater archaeologists, a historian, an expert in damage quantification, and specialists in magnetometry, geodesy, oceanography, and hydrography, according to El Tiempo.
Key to the defense was the involvement of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), a global leader in ocean research. With the support of the National Navy of Colombia and the General Maritime Directorate, WHOI collected seabed data in strategic areas crucial for Colombia's case, El Heraldo reported.
"This produced fundamental evidence that demonstrated, without a doubt, that neither Sea Search Armada nor its predecessors found the Galleon San José, nor were they close to doing so," claimed Colombia, as noted by El Heraldo.
"The strategy of the Colombian State's defense in this case consists of demonstrating the truth that Sea Search Armada has always refused to accept: that they never found the Galleon San José," explained Palomino.
The Colombian government emphasized that national courts, particularly the Supreme Court of Justice, have not recognized any rights in favor of Sea Search Armada over the Galleon San José. The current arbitration proceeding is classified as another failed attempt by Sea Search Armada to seek recognition of rights, according to Semana.
Sea Search Armada filed the lawsuit against the Colombian State on June 14, 2023, claiming rights over the discovery and treasures of the San José Galleon, as reported by Semana.
Although the State Legal Agency of Colombia attempted to dismiss the case, the Permanent Court of Arbitration denied the request, as reported by Semana.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.