As Chilean President Gabriel Boric prepared to deliver the president’s annual national address to the nation this weekend, fears mounted that his government could announce a formal break in diplomatic relations with Israel—a move that members of Congress, security experts, and US officials warn could carry profound consequences.
“Cutting ties with Israel would be an unprecedented mistake that isolates Chile at a time when we need strategic allies,” said Chilean MP Miguel Ángel Calisto, president of the Chile–Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, in an interview with The Media Line. “Israel is our partner in innovation, cybersecurity, and defense. Weakening that bond undermines our national interest.”
Tensions escalated after Chile withdrew its military attachés from Tel Aviv in late May, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza. While the Chilean Foreign Ministry has not confirmed a full break in ties, pressure is mounting behind the scenes—including from senior officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump.
A source within the Trump administration said several punitive measures are under discussion if Chile proceeds with a diplomatic rupture. Options reportedly include suspending the Visa Waiver Program for Chilean citizens—Chile is currently the only South American country with such an agreement—imposing new tariffs on Chilean exports, closing the US consulate in Santiago, and canceling student visa interviews.
“We already see the Visa Waiver Program under review, and this is just the beginning,” Calisto said. “There are economic and diplomatic consequences that will deeply hurt Chile if this continues.”
Chile and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations since 1949. For decades, their relationship has stood out as a rare example of stability between a Latin American country with a large Palestinian population and the Jewish state. That balance, observers say, is now in jeopardy.
“The deterioration of bilateral ties is not accidental—it’s ideological,” said Dr. Mario Sznajder, professor emeritus of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an expert on Latin American politics. “President Boric has not concealed his preference for aligning with radical governments in the region and distancing Chile from the Western democratic consensus.”
Sznajder noted Boric’s silence following the October 7 massacre by Hamas, in which more than 1,200 civilians, including five Chilean citizens, were killed. “It was a moment to reaffirm a moral compass. Instead, we saw ambivalence and then escalating hostility,” he said.
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In the Chilean Congress, frustration is rising over what some lawmakers call a double standard. “Chile maintains diplomatic relations with Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and Nicaragua—countries with far more questionable human rights records,” Calisto said. “And yet we single out Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East? That’s not coherent foreign policy—it’s hypocrisy.”
Calisto warned that the political cost of these decisions extends beyond bilateral ties. “We risk being perceived as unreliable by the international community,” he said. “That’s a blow not only to our reputation but also to our capacity to engage in multilateralism and global trade.”
The stakes include national security. Chile and Israel have long cooperated in counterterrorism, drone technology, and military training. Several joint programs are now under review following Chile’s decision to pull its military attachés.
“We are working on a critical piece of legislation concerning protection of strategic infrastructure and rules of engagement,” said Calisto. “Israel is a global leader in these areas. Severing ties means Chile would lose access to that expertise—while Argentina, under President Javier Milei, is moving in the opposite direction and deepening its defense ties with Israel.”
Former Defense Minister Mario Desbordes, now mayor of Santiago, expressed alarm over the weakening of military cooperation with Israel. “This is a serious mistake, and not a decision of state—it’s a personal stance by President Boric, who has shown hostility toward Israel long before October 7,” he told The Media Line. Desbordes emphasized the longstanding defense relationship between the two countries, which includes arms procurement, joint training, and intelligence-sharing. “This relationship has never been about ideology. It’s about protecting Chile’s national security.”
Desbordes also warned that ending military coordination with Israel could leave Chile more vulnerable to regional threats. “Hezbollah has an operational presence in Chile, especially in financing and logistics. That’s not a theory—it’s a reality our intelligence agencies are fully aware of,” he said. “Our partnership with Israel is essential to confronting those networks. Without it, we risk becoming a blind spot in the global fight against terrorism.”
Some officials are especially concerned about broader regional fallout. “Bolivia is already working with Iran on defense. If Chile abandons Israel, we leave a vacuum that hostile powers will quickly fill,” Calisto said.
In Israel, the developments are being closely monitored. MK Tzvi Sukkot, chairman of the Knesset’s Friendship Group with Chile, told The Media Line that the situation is among the most troubling he has encountered.
“I just took over this role last week, and it’s already one of the most urgent diplomatic challenges I’ve encountered,” he said. “There is a deeply rooted anti-Israel sentiment that has reached decision-makers. We must not take our friendships for granted. We do not have the privilege of being excluded from parts of the world.”
Asked whether Israel should deepen its engagement across Latin America, particularly in light of Hezbollah’s known presence in the region, Sukkot responded directly: “Modern antisemitism is anti-Zionism. We need to invest every ounce of effort to push back against it.”
Back in Santiago, lawmakers are also reacting to renewed efforts by centrist and conservative parties to fast-track a controversial bill that would ban imports from “occupied territories”—widely interpreted as backing the global BDS movement. The bill has remained stalled in the Senate since 2023.
“This is a very dangerous road,” Calisto warned. “The United States has laws that penalize companies and states that promote boycotts against Israel. If Chile adopts this legislation, it will provoke direct retaliation. That includes private companies, students, exporters. Everyone.”
He added: “We cannot afford to open that door. Today it’s Israel. Tomorrow it could be China, Morocco, or even the United States. It’s an irresponsible precedent.”
Attention now turns to President Boric’s national address, where a formal break with Israel remains a possibility. Asked whether Chile’s Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren should resign if that happens, Calisto replied carefully but pointedly: “Minister van Klaveren has gone above and beyond to defend Chile’s global standing, often despite the president. If this goes forward, I trust he will do what conscience demands.”
With time running out, Chile faces what many see as a pivotal decision. “This is not the time for ideological posturing,” said Calisto. “It’s time to think of Chile’s place in the world—and what kind of allies we want to have.”