Chile’s president-elect, José Antonio Kast, had a two-hour meeting with President Javier Milei at Casa Rosada on Tuesday. This is the first sit-down between the two leaders since Kast’s victory in the Chilean runoff election on Sunday.
Kast appeared satisfied after leaving the meeting, describing the talks as positive. Contrary to what had been previously announced, the pair did not make a joint appearance on the balcony. The Chilean leader chose instead to approach the fence overlooking Plaza de Mayo to greet the Chilean citizens who had gathered there while trying to avoid cameras and journalists.
Before leaving, Kast left a message of reassurance, saying that the bilateral relationship with Argentina will be solid. He avoided answering questions from reporters.
The enthusiasm could be felt in the presidential office. Footage released by the government showed Milei effusively congratulating Kast for his win against the ruling party’s candidate, Jeannette Jara. An official statement said that the pair outlined a roadmap set to prioritize “regional and border security, the fight against transnational organized crime, the promotion of trade and investment, and cooperation in key sectors of the economy.”
Kast met Milei and Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno shortly after noon. Previously, he met with Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo and Secretary of Economic Policy José Luis Daza.
Kast’s agenda in Argentina Following his meeting with Milei, Kast had lunch with Argentine business leaders at the Intercontinental Hotel. He later met with Chile’s ambassador to Argentina, José Antonio Viera-Gallo.
Kast’s delegation included advisor Jorge Quiroz, Production and Commerce Confederation President Susana Jiménez, and Society for Industrial Development President Rosario Navarro.
Kast’s visit to Buenos Aires comes just days after his electoral victory and before he formally takes office in March. For the Argentine government, the result points to a changing of the tide in the neighboring country and is seen as a favorable sign for consolidating ties with administrations that share a liberal economic and conservative political agenda.
Milei showed his satisfaction over Kast’s victory in a speech delivered on Monday night. “South America has awakened and has begun to turn inexorably toward the ideas of freedom,” he said at the Fundación Faro’s end-of-year dinner.
The Argentine president went on to note that the right had made significant gains in the region, pointing out that South America was ruled mainly by left-wing leaders when he came to power two years ago.
“We started at a disadvantage. For years we have ignored the cultural battle. An idea does not need to be true to go far; it just needs to be attractive,” he said.
Originally published in Ámbito