INTERVIEW | Chile and Its Foreign Policy: "There is a Deficit in Strategic Planning and Communication"

The socio-political crisis in Venezuela coincided with the visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who arrived to finalize agreements aimed at the development of Chile and Brazil. Despite expectations for a joint declaration, both leaders focused on their bilateral agenda and did not delve into the situation in Venezuela.

This raises questions about the position of Chile in the international arena: What does Lula da Silva’s visit mean? How will relations with Venezuela evolve? What impact will a possible new wave of migration have on relations with neighboring countries?

In a new edition of The Interview with Tomás Mosciatti, Paz Zárate, a lawyer specializing in public international law and a senior researcher at the international relations think tank Athena Lab, discussed the international landscape and how Chile would position itself in this scenario.

Relations between Chile and America

“I believe that Lula, in this presidency, is focused on achieving his golden dream of Brazil finally becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and for that, he needs to renew friendships and ties with all countries that can have some influence on that significant change,”, Zárate explained.

This includes Chile, “despite the fact that the personal relationship between Lula and Gabriel Boric has not been good since the beginning of the government,” she commented.

In view of a mediation in Venezuela, “the question is whether Lula, a strong ally of Russia, can represent the entire continent and whether we should support that being allies of Ukraine,”, she added, “I have my doubts about whether that is truly in our interest.”

An Internal Perspective

“President Boric has undoubtedly emerged very strengthened in his external image due to the leadership he has taken on this issue; he has had the courage to stand up to Maduro and Lula to say that the problem in Venezuela is not narrative and now demand, of course, that popular will be respected,”, she emphasized.

Now, regarding a possible new wave of migration, it is essential to analyze “what Chile’s strategic vision is regarding Bolivia and Peru, after the cases concluded in The Hague, and supposedly things were clarified, how does the relationship move forward? Obviously, there is a link, just as there is in Venezuela, between drug trafficking and the government,”, she stated.

“The responsibility for thinking strategically about the future of Chile does not rest solely with the government; it also lies with citizens, and with the private sector. There is a deficit in strategic planning, and also somewhat in communication, but I believe we all have a responsibility as citizens to ensure that this issue is not just an elite matter, but one that is discussed by everyone,”, she explained.

We invite you to watch the full interview on Bio Bio Tv.

August 7, 2024

Source: Radio Bio Bio