Reference News Network, December 17 report: The UK's Financial Times website published an article titled "Chilean Conservatives Win Big, Trump Gains Another Latin American Ally" on December 15. The author is Michael Stout. The following is a translated summary:
Less than two weeks after Trump released his new National Security Strategy, which listed the Western Hemisphere as a top priority for the United States, Jose Antonio Kast's victory added another Latin American president to the growing "Trump-friendly" leadership group in the region.
Kast defeated his opponent Janet Jara with an overwhelming margin of 58% to 42%. Previously, right-wing candidate Rodrigo Paz Peña won the election in Bolivia, and Javier Milei also achieved success in Argentina's mid-term congressional elections in October. In addition, Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura performed strongly in the controversial presidential election in Honduras. Meanwhile, conservative presidents have already been established in Ecuador, Paraguay, and El Salvador.
"Kast will join this group," said Michael Schifter, a Latin America expert at the Washington-based think tank Americas Society/Council of the Americas, "the Trump administration will say it's 'our people won.'
The United States quickly extended its congratulations to Kast. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would work with him "to strengthen regional security and revitalize our trade relations."
This refers to two key priorities in the region, once called the "backyard" by Washington: combating organized crime, and ensuring the supply of critical minerals such as lithium. Chile is particularly important to the United States because it is the world's largest copper producer and the second-largest lithium producer.
Kast's campaign also proposed solutions similar to those of Trump. The elected Chilean president proposed building ditches and fences along the border with Peru and Bolivia in northern Chile, using drones for patrols, and deporting undocumented immigrants. "Chile will once again be free from crime, anxiety, and fear," Kast said in his victory speech.
Although Kast's victory speech had a clearly conciliatory tone, different from Trump, he is part of a political alliance network in Latin America established over the past decade by Trump's allies, such as his former chief strategist Steve Bannon.
In 2022, Kast attended a conservative political action conference in Brazil alongside Milei and Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, which was facilitated by Trump's former advisor Jason Miller.
Bannon said on the 15th that Kast's victory should be viewed within the broader context of Trump's strategy. This strategy involves strengthening hemispheric defense and reasserting the Monroe Doctrine of the 19th century, which holds that the region should be the American sphere of influence, free from foreign interference.
"This is hemispheric defense, Monroe Doctrine 2.0," said Bannon, "it is clearly aimed at establishing dominance in Latin America, working with partners who are similar to the 'Make America Great Again' movement, helping their own countries become great again. I think there could not be a better outcome."
Bannon said the success of Kast's hard-line stance on illegal immigration has significance beyond Latin America.
"Chile really sends a global message," he said, "citizens want safety... they want a safe family environment... they will not tolerate governments that take a lenient approach toward illegal immigrants or any foreign intruders."
Carlos Malamud, a Latin America expert at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in Madrid, said there are other factors driving the region's shift to the right, including "strong voter dissatisfaction with the status quo and the demand for quick and easy solutions, even if these come at a high cost." (Translated by Wang Diqing)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7584826494438998547/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.