2023-06-30 15:12:09
It is a classic move of diplomatic chess that has placed Chile at the head of the Pacific alliance provisional. With it, it was possible to unlock the impasse arose when the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, resisted handing over the rotating presidency of the group to Peru, so as not to validate the government of Dina Boluarte, whom he once described as a “usurper.” Instead, Chile will occupy the seat for a month, following which it will pass the baton to Lima.
Already before assuming as Mexican foreign minister, Alicia Bárcenas, then ambassador in Santiago, thus scored success with her efforts. And so did Chilean diplomacy.
different visions
“There was a lot of concern regarding this impasse in which the Pacific Alliance was, which is one of the most successful initiatives at the regional level, at a time when the region needs more dynamism,” Paz Milet, an academic at the Institute of International Studies, told DW. of the University of Chile.Consequently, he considers that it was “an appropriate solution, because there is a substantive discrepancy in terms of the vision that Chile and Mexico have regarding what happened in Peru.”
Indeed, unlike what happens in Mexico, in Santiago it is considered that it was Pedro Castillo who attacked democratic logic and that Boluarte had to assume, for being the vice president. This has become even clearer since Alberto van Klaveren, a renowned figure with extensive experience, took office in the Chilean Foreign Ministry in March, replacing Antonia Urrejola, who had had to deal with several setbacks during her administration.
Continuity with new seal
“From my point of view, there was continuity in the fundamental principles of Chilean foreign policy. For example, with respect to treaties, work on international law… There may have been certain formal errors, but deep down, there has not been a substantive change. Chilean foreign policy is recognized for its continuity”, emphasizes Paz Milet.
But, beyond the above, President Gabriel Boric has marked a new style of doing politics, also on the international stage. Controversy caused, for example, the initial reluctance of the government to receive the credentials of the new Israeli ambassador in Santiago, which was attributed to disgust over the death of a Palestinian youth in an Israeli operation. And it has not been the only episode that escapes the norm.
On the other hand, the firmness with which the Chilean president condemns violations of human rights or anti-democratic measures, wherever they come from, has also drawn attention. His pronouncements usually have a value stamp, beyond the ideological shirts. “We see a leader who, for example, is very graphic in showing empathy; and who does not hesitate to condemn certain logics that go once morest his principles”, highlights the academic, and recalls Boric’s reaction in the recent summit convened by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil, before the welcome that was paid to Nicolás Maduro. “We are happy that Venezuela is returning to multilateral instances (…) That, however, cannot mean sweeping principles important to us under the rug,” declared the Chilean president, who on previous occasions had also harshly criticized the Nicaraguan regime .
Being on the left has not prevented Boric from strongly criticizing the Ortega regime. Image: Matias Delacroix/AP/picture alliance / CANAL 6 NICARAGUA/AFP
Regional leadership?
The defense of human rights and democratic coherence are basic postulates for Boric in terms of foreign policy, which now also bears the label “feminist” in Chile. In addition, it focuses on the will to promote cooperation initiatives, for example , in terms of development and the environment Not surprisingly, one of its first measures was the signing of the Escazú agreement.
However, its possibilities for regional leadership are limited. “Initially, when he took office, there was a lot of talk regarding a possible joint leadership with Alberto Fernández, regarding a new vision of the left, but later he has moved towards a greater emphasis on the internal, without abandoning the external. Boric is very involved in the gestation process of a new social contract, through the Constituent Assembly”, Milet points out. And he recalls that it must also be considered that “it shows certain discrepancies with other leaders that may exist in the region.”
For the moment, however, Chilean diplomacy has at least managed to overcome the discrepancies that kept the Pacific Alliance bogged down and has opened a door to understanding, beyond the ideological gaps. But it is difficult to foresee whether the example will teach.
(elm)
1688154366
#Boricstyle #diplomacy
