COLUMN | Good luck, Minister Delpiano

If you succeed, we all succeed. Maintain that decision, stance, and military demeanor that you displayed at the 95th anniversary of the FACH. If you do, fantastic. If not, we are in trouble.

In February 2022, I wrote a similar column for former Minister Fernández, who, even while serving as a deputy at that time, was about to assume the role of Minister of National Defense under President Boric on March 11, 2022. Some accused me of trying to influence the new minister, and I hope I am not accused of the same this time. However, since neither of them are specialists in the field, I hope these recommendations will be useful to Minister Delpiano in carrying out her high responsibilities.

First, seek good assistance in being the Minister of National Defense. There are individuals who know a lot and whom I would classify as experts, such as Gabriel Gaspar, undoubtedly the most knowledgeable about defense and national security in the center-left, in addition to being well-versed in Peru and Bolivia. There is also former Minister of Defense José Antonio Gómez, who was well-regarded by the Armed Forces during his tenure. Others who can also support her include Víctor Jeame Barrueto, who learned a great deal while serving as Undersecretary.

Second: seek to be close to the commanders-in-chief and the Chief of the Joint Staff (JEMCO). They are, by far, the ones who best understand where the pressure points are and the challenges ahead.

Third: do not stress about the replacement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy in June of this year. The five vice admirals in the shortlist are all good; at a minimum, they have 34 years of active service and excellent careers as naval officers, so there are no risks.

Fourth: be mindful of the Defense Policy. The existing one was completed in 2020 and published in early 2021. It is the best that has been done to date, thanks to then-Undersecretary De La Maza.

I know there are people working on a new version, but we have already reached March of the last year of government, and it is unclear when it will be released. I would stick with the current one and only make an update. It is not that I distrust what may be published, but its drafting process has not been very transparent, despite some seminars organized at Anepe in 2024. The previous one was at least reviewed and discussed by many before being published.

Fifth: please ensure that everything related to the financing of strategic defense capabilities is done in accordance with the relevant law. The same applies to the section of the strategic contingency fund. In recent years, not everything has been in accordance with what is established, leading to some doubts in public opinion regarding its proper management. The idea is for it to operate as established and not to please those who still defend the Copper Law.

Sixth: the Armed Forces are obedient, hierarchical, and disciplined, but that condition should not be exploited. They cannot go on strike and are not unionized like the gendarmes, but they do expect you to defend them in Congress and before the Ministry of Finance, whether during discussions on the RUF or the annual budget.

Seventh: the recent cuts have left institutions in a dire state, a situation that has been ongoing for a couple of years. The most recent cuts are the last straw, and if there are more, they will either operate in a risky manner or, alternatively, not operate at all. There are minimums that must be met to maintain operational capabilities.

Having them in constant deployment for states of emergency or supporting the police at the northern and northeastern borders is not free. They must be provided with the human and financial resources to carry out those functions, ensuring that this does not consume the resources allocated for operations and training, primarily for the defense of sovereignty, territory, seas, air, and outer space of Chile.

Eighth: before starting the 2026 budget process, please inform yourself well about the conditions in which the institutions are operating and their level of readiness. Along with this, understand the conditions of officers and non-commissioned officers, as well as retirements and resignations. We must not lose qualified personnel that has taken years and resources to develop by demanding more than what is reasonable.

In relation to the above, the Armed Forces will always seek to fulfill their constitutional roles and defined mission areas, but everything has its limits. If we do not fill the vacancies for military service and professional troops due to budgetary restrictions, we cannot later ask them to perform miracles or tasks for which they do not have the necessary human or material resources.

You must be the first to raise your hand when they want to use them for internal security tasks, provided that this does not come at the expense of what is needed to fulfill the tasks assigned to them.

Ninth: do not wear yourself out with the bills on the RUF or intelligence. If the former were to see the light of day, please ensure that you address the issue of exemptions from liability and the need for specialized prosecutors and courts. In the latter case, more important than a new law is to seek to increase the staffing of the ANI and ensure it operates 24/7. Obviously, it must be transformed into an operational organization, with field agents, relevant capabilities in digital processing, cyber, and AI, but above all, coordinating the intelligence system as a whole.

Tenth: please, in addition to seeking proper advice, work very closely with the Defense committees of both chambers of the National Congress. It is said that you are a person with a lot of common sense, so I believe we are in good hands. If you have doubts, the Bible is the Constitution and Law 20.424. Article 5 of that law clearly defines the obligations of the Minister of National Defense.

In closing, good luck and success, Minister Delpiano. If you succeed, we all succeed. Maintain that decision, stance, and military demeanor that you displayed at the 95th anniversary of the FACH. If you do, fantastic. If not, we are in trouble.