La Tercera · October 6, 2026

Chilean lawmakers call on Kast to prioritize sovereignty over Argentina amid criticism of his close ties to Milei

The Chilean Chamber of Deputies held a special session in response to Argentine military leaders’ challenges to Chile’s sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan and approved seven resolutions addressed to President José Antonio Kast. Among them, lawmakers called on the government to prioritize Chile’s interests over political ties with Argentina and demanded that the renewal of fighter jets be expedited to strengthen control over the southern region.

During the debate, Socialist Representative Daniel Manouchehri questioned the Chilean executive branch’s response to Javier Milei’s government, noting that Kast received him with honors even though the Argentine decree referring to joint control of the strait remains in effect and Kast stated that he would not demand its repeal. The legislator argued that “this government prioritizes ideological affinity over the national interest” when referring to the relationship between the two administrations. Other deputies, however, questioned the decision to reopen the controversy and warned about the cost of framing the issue as an internal political dispute.

Via La Tercera