Argentina’s President Javier Milei has spoken with Chilean presidential candidate José Antonio Kast, both leaders confirmed on social media.
“I’ve just had a very good conversation with the President of Argentina, @JMilei, with whom I agree on the enormous opportunities ahead for Latin America and for the relationship between Chile and Argentina as we look towards a future with more freedom, security and economic progress,” Kast wrote in a post on X.
Milei echoed Kast’s message and added: "La Libertad de América Avanza" (‘The freedom of America advances").
Although the governing coalition’s candidate in Chile, Communist politician Jeannette Jara, narrowly won the first round of Chile’s presidential election, Kast is tipped as the frontrunner in the upcoming December 14.
With 71.1 percent of polling stations counted, the governing party’s candidate had secured 26.6 percent of the vote, while Kast had reached 24.19 percent.
In third place was Franco Parisi of the People’s Party with 19.2 percent.
The next positions were taken by Evelyn Matthei, Johannes Kaiser, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, Marco Enríquez-Ominami and Eduardo Artés.
Matthei was the first to concede defeat and announced her support for Kast in the second round.
“We’re heading to José Antonio Kast’s campaign HQ to congratulate him,” Matthei said after initial results were announced.
Kaiser has also backed Kast, confirming his support for the Republican candidate, who is seen as the frontrunner going into the run-off.
'Anti-Argentine?'
Kast is a far-right nationalist who has long been seen as “anti-Argentine,” particularly on Patagonia and Antarctic claims. But should the Republican defeat Jara in the run-off, his political alignment with Milei could lead to better relations between the neighbouring countries.
In July 2020, during the presidency of Alberto Fernández, Milei’s predecessor in office, Kast accused Argentina on social media of having “already stolen enough territory,” reacting to a post from then-Argentine foreign minister Santiago Cafiero showing a UN-validated map that included the Antarctic Peninsula. Kast tagged his post with #LaAntarticaEsChilena.
The 59-year-old, now in his third presidential bid and second run-off, is known for hardline positions on human rights and gender issues. He has defended Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, supported Brazil ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and opposes equal marriage and abortion in all circumstances. He calls for tighter borders and limits on immigration.
On sovereignty, Kast aligns with academic Jorge Guzmán, who asserts Chilean rights over the Antarctic Peninsula, the continental shelf, the Strait of Magellan and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Guzmán argues diplomacy cannot resolve these disputes and has urged a long-term legal strategy under the 1984 Peace and Friendship Treaty.
Argentina’s former ambassador to Chile, Rafael Bielsa, labelled Kast “xenophobic” in 2021, arguing he had made “anti-Argentine” rhetoric a trademark.
Kast has avoided territorial disputes in the current campaign – but has not deleted his 2020 post.
– TIMES/NA
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