New Authorities in Foreign Affairs & Defense

El Mostrador, March 13, 2023

We wish our new chancellor much success in his vital functions for the future of our country. We know he does not start from scratch but from a negative balance that must be reversed quickly for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Foreign Service to regain their status as a serious and respected brand in the international arena.

On Friday the 10th, we witnessed a cabinet reshuffle in the style of this Government. Yes, no, change of schedule, seven chairs, only five, a first-choice chancellor who does not accept the position. Ultimately, there were five ministers and fifteen undersecretaries. Over the weekend, it was a time for hugs. For consolation for those who were dismissed from their positions, and for good wishes and congratulations for those taking on new roles. A whole ritual. I believe it is important to refer to the work that, after the hugs, will correspond to two of the new cabinet members, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Undersecretary of Defense.

Chancellor Alberto Van Klaveren takes over a ministry that, in less than a year, managed to destroy much of the professional, specialized work and the hallmark of how to conduct international politics built over decades. In less than a year, our ‘brand’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile sank and lost much of its value. Error after error, blunder after blunder, carelessness after carelessness, trust and respect, both national and international, were lost. A lack of leadership, internal conflicts, personal preferences, inexperience, and sheer ineptitude characterized the ministry’s activities. It is no coincidence that in this cabinet reshuffle, the ministry was decapitated.

Despite this harsh reality, we deeply regret the departure of Undersecretary Ximena Fuentes, a highly distinguished professional. In her role as Director of Borders and Boundaries, she played a significant part in defending national interests across multiple areas of our diverse neighborhood relations, particularly in safeguarding our sovereign interests in the southern seas and the Chilean Antarctic. She was the one who brought seriousness, experience, and knowledge to the role.

What comes after the hugs for Chancellor Van Klaveren? First and foremost, and as soon as possible, he must organize the internal team. If the way of working of the ministry that represents us abroad is what we hear in the leaked audios, then many more people need to be removed. The same applies to the ceremonial and protocol direction after several egregious errors. In the short term, the minister must form and solidify a team that functions professionally and seriously, and above all, with zero tolerance for mistakes, as there is no floor or political capital for more.

The second immediate challenge is to align the strategic variables and foreign policy objectives with the reality of the country. Whether we like it or not, Chile relies on its foreign trade with the Indo-Pacific and not on its relationship with South America. We can promote cultural relations, tourism, exchanges, and a series of initiatives in our neighborhood, but we must not lose sight of the fact that much more than half of our economy moves by sea and is linked to our trading partners in Asia and North America. In that same vein, realism must lead us to understand that our strategic allies belong to the Western world led by the U.S. If General Laura Richardson, commander of Southern Command, testifies before her country’s Congress that the growing presence and influence of China in South America is considered a threat to the United States, we must be very alert.

Our chancellor is recognized in the academic world as a champion of multilateralism, Americanism, and a great friend of Argentina. His third challenge is in the bilateral realm with that country. The spaces opened by the revelation of the Foreign Ministry recording were immediately occupied by President Fernández with his trip to Antarctica, the inauguration of a new military base in Tierra del Fuego, and the project to increase Argentina’s port capacity in the southern region to capture the growing interest in connectivity with Antarctica. This is compounded by the revelation regarding the denial of authorization for a British vessel to dock at Chilean ports, to do a favor for the Argentine ambassador in Chile. Defending Chile’s interests is the primary and foremost priority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomacy does not exist to avoid conflict but to achieve and defend the country’s interests. We face a giant challenge with the multiple and serious threats that Argentina systematically presents to our sovereignty and territorial continuity in the southern and austral regions, not to mention the Chilean Antarctic.

Bilateral relations with our other two unstable neighbors are also not easy. Bolivia unwaveringly maintains its aspiration over Chilean territory. Additionally, it is a key player in controlling illegal immigration and effectively managing borders. With Peru, the chancellor, who was part of the team that represented us in The Hague regarding the maritime boundary dispute, now has to ensure that the ruling is fully complied with. We have fulfilled our part, but Peru has yet to recognize its boundaries according to UNCLOS.

We wish our new chancellor much success in his vital functions for the future of our country. We know he does not start from scratch but from a negative balance that must be reversed quickly for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Foreign Service to regain their status as a serious and respected brand in the international arena.

A very different challenge is assumed by the new Undersecretary of Defense, Mr. Víctor Jeame Barrueto. He replaces Mr. Gabriel Gaspar, one of the most knowledgeable individuals about defense within the Chilean left and a recognized academic specializing in security and defense. The new undersecretary is a seasoned politician, with extensive experience, and undoubtedly that will help him in his new and delicate functions. Additionally, he represented Talcahuano in the Chamber of Deputies, an electoral district inextricably linked to national defense issues.

Undersecretary Jeame Barrueto takes office with the Armed Forces deployed, for various reasons and in different locations, continuously for more than four years. Social unrest, pandemic, control of movement restrictions, home confinement, Macro South Zone, support for the police in the north, the Valparaíso fire, mega-fires in the south, and now border control in the north and protection of critical infrastructure. What state is the Defense mission area in after so many years of ‘multifunctional’ deployment but far from its main function?

The Undersecretary of Defense is responsible for primary planning, which corresponds to political leadership, not only of the defense institutions but also of the development of the capabilities that the forces assigned to the Chief of the Joint Staff must transform into operational capabilities that constitute the basis of our deterrent effect to preserve peace. He will need to generate, together with Minister Fernández, a new phase of coordination and synergy with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also with the Ministry of the Interior, in all the roles and functions that the Armed Forces currently perform as directed by the President of the Republic. How are we going to address the challenges of aging equipment and talent retention? A significant question that requires priority attention.

Congratulations to both authorities on their appointment. We wish them the best of success for the good of the country. Now, after the hugs, they are needed to act with the urgency that Chile requires in two areas that are fundamental for the future of our homeland.

To Ms. Ximena Fuentes and Mr. Gabriel Gaspar, whose departures are not understood and seem illogical, thank you very much, and I am sure you will continue to serve Chile wherever your new destinations may be.

Richard Kouyoumdjian
Vice President AthenaLab

Source: El Mostrador