南极条约及相关协定，总称南极条约体系，旨在约束各国在南极洲这块地球上唯一一块没有常住人口的大陆上的活动，确保各国对南极洲的尊重。该条约中规定，南极洲是指南纬60°以南的所有地区，包括冰架，总面积约5,200万平方公里。目前共有50个国家签署该条约。条约的主要内容是：南极洲仅用于和平目的，促进在南极洲地区进行科学考察的自由，促进科学考察中的国际合作，禁止在南极地区进行一切具有军事性质的活动及核爆炸和处理放射物，冻结目前领土所有权的主张，促进国际在科学方面的合作。

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude. The treaty, entering into force in 1961 and having 53 parties as of 2016, sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent. The treaty was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters have been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since September 2004.