Naval warfare reached Antarctic waters

Were there ever wars in or around Antarctica?

Yes. Naval engagements occurred in far southern waters around whaling fleets and raiders, although the fighting was at sea rather than on Antarctic land.

The suggestion that Antarctica has never seen warfare depends on drawing the boundary at the coastline. Naval engagements occurred in far southern waters where whaling fleets and commerce raiders operated. These were battles at sea rather than campaigns on the Antarctic continent. The distinction matters when geographic labels are used to decide whether a conflict counted as global.