Argentina and Chile witnessed transformations in their respective governments with Alberto Fernandez and Gabriel Boric being elected as Presidents respectively. While Fernandez won in 2019, Gabriel Boric became Chile’s youngest President in 2022. Both the presidents have embarked on a mission to promote their respective countries. President Alberto Fernandez made trips to Russia and China and recently returned from a trip to Europe, President Boric visited Argentina and Canada. While economic troubles continue to plague Latin America, only Chile and Argentina are taking the lead towards creating a pan-Latin American vision. Both these countries are aspiring to become regional leaders at a time when the region must overcome its troubles related to the economy and the aftereffects of the pandemic. Their focus revolves around the ideas of pan-Latin American unity, multilateralism, regional development and cooperation. Despite certain differences there is convergence of interests in creating a pan-Latin American vision. The United States has lost considerable influence in Latin America owing to its preoccupation with the Ukraine crisis and a need to counter the Peoples’ Republic of China. This is also a factor which has given Chile and Argentina space to project their foreign policies in a more resolute manner.
Internal factors
Argentina and Chile are currently going through financial woes. Inflation and soaring commodity prices have aggravated the situation. Chile witnessed an economic slowdown, despite a recovery plan amounting to 3.7 billion dollars being issued by the government. Argentina recently entered into a deal with the IMF in order to avoid a default and lose access to international credit markets. Although the deal offers some relief, it calls for reducing public spending, subsidies and increase in interest rates to stabilize the economy. Due to the pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the economic recovery is going to be slow. The governments will be expected to manage social spending and fiscal investment in order to tide over the unfavourable situation.
Both the nations are also undergoing political crises. In Argentina, President Fernandez is at odds with Vice-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over the issue of economic management and the IMF deal. The Chilean President witnessed falling popularity2 rates in the face of an economic crisis and inability to come to a conclusion over the drafting of a new Constitution. There are also fissures within the ruling coalition which may impact the functioning of the governments in both the countries.
Foreign policy initiatives of Chile
Gabriel Boric criticised Russia quite strongly in the context of the Ukraine crisis, and also expressed criticism for Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba in the context of human rights. He also supported Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands and agreed to restore proper diplomatic relationship with Bolivia. In contrast to his predecessor Sebastian Piñera, the Chilean administration also decided to participate in the Escazú Agreement. The Escazú Agreement is a regional agreement on the environment in Latin America that entered into force in 2021. While twelve countries have already ratified it, Chile signed the agreement in March 2022, and recently the lower house of the Chilean Assembly approved the bill. Chilean foreign minister, Antonia Urrejola affirmed3 that Chilean foreign policy will be more participatory; citizen based and will focus on sustainable and inclusive development. In a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, discussions were held which ranged from women empowerment, defending human rights, generating economic growth, protection of democracy and the environment4. President Boric attended the Summit of the Americas which was held from 6th to 10th of June 2022. He welcomed investment in Chile while maintaining labour and environmental standards. He also said that the Chilean economy requires diversification while focusing on inclusiveness5. Even though he attended the summit, he reminded that the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from the summit was a mistake6.
President Boric also made overtures towards Bolivia in order to restore relations. Chile and Bolivia severed diplomatic relations after 1978 due to territorial disputes. Additionally, the Chilean government withdrew from PROSUR** which was a regional cooperative bloc founded by former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera and Colombian President Iván Duque7. President Boric stated that the decision was taken in order to ensure regional cohesion in Latin America to achieve greater regional cooperation. He stressed on Latin American unity in order to find solutions rather than creating organisations with ideological affinities8.
Foreign Policy initiatives of Argentina
President Fernandez in contrast with his predecessor Macri has indicated willingness to restore relations with Venezuela. As the US announced its unwillingness to invite Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela to the ninth Summit of the Americas, President Fernandez urged Washington to reconsider its stance, especially considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic all across the Americas and called for dialogue cutting across internal differences among the nations. Argentina has agreed to enter the BRI, and in a trip to the PRC and Russia in February 20229 President Fernandez strengthened ties with these two countries. The Argentinean President did not criticize Russia’s military action as severely as the West. The President’s recent visit to Europe to meet Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was to promote Argentina10 as an investment friendly nation and as an alternative source for agricultural products to Russia. At the Summit of the Americas, President Fernandez criticised the economic blockades of Cuba and Venezuela, the policies of the IMF and suggested the restructuring of the IDB and the OAS. He also proposed a continental approach to food security and exploration of energy and mineral resources11.
Within Latin America, Argentina has welcomed cooperation in the agricultural sector with Cuba. President Fernandez also met his Paraguayan counterpart President Benítez to discuss cooperation in energy and other sectors. The Argentinean President talked about Latin America’s common destiny and the need to work together, while President Benítez of Paraguay thanked his counterpart for all the assistance during the pandemic12.
Despite ideological differences between the Presidents of Argentina and Brazil, the two countries have made substantial progress with relation to energy cooperation and food production. Argentina welcomed Brazil’s positive approach towards the IMF negotiations and on the issue of the Falkland Islands13. Defence Ministers of Bolivia and Argentina discussed possibilities in cooperation in the Defence sector. Jorge Taiana, Defence Minister of Argentina explained that it was important to deepen a historical relationship with Bolivia and advance in terms of integration in a broader sense, while carving out an independent South American Defence production identity14.
President Boric’s visit to Argentina and the outcome
Perhaps the most important event would be the visit of President Boric to Argentina. In a statement issued at a press conference along with President Fernandez, the Chilean president affirmed that Latin America as a region should be united in its outlook. Cooperation among the nations is of prime importance and it should be able to present a joint voice on the global platform. He also reiterated that even if Chile looks towards other regions for deepening its relations, its base is in Latin America. Chile also offered its support to Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands15. It is interesting to note that during the Falkland war, former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet firmly supported the United Kingdom. Discussions also ranged on energy cooperation related to the export of natural gas from Argentina. President Fernandez affirmed that cooperation with Chile is one of Argentina’s key foreign policy goals and that both the nations have a common destiny. President Boric agreed that diplomacy should play an important role regarding territorial disputes in the Antarctic continental shelf16 and both the nations should deepen cooperation.
Conclusion
While both the countries are dealing with economic and political crises, they are trying to reshape their foreign policies keeping in mind a pan-Latin American vision. They seem to be making an effort to find out a common ground leading to the path towards cooperation at a regional level. Both the governments are ideologically aligned and are focusing on creating a pan-Latin American vision which would be in tandem with their foreign policy initiatives.
References
1 Patrick Gillespie (6th May 2022). Argentina Vice-President slams government over economy. Accessed 7th May 2022. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/argentina-vice-president-kirchner-slams-government-over-economy-1.1762372
2 Matthew Malinowski (4th April 2022). Chile sours on Boric, Constitution as poll finds economic alarm. Accessed 7th May 2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-04/chile-poll-brings-double-whammy-for-boric-and-new-constitution.
3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Chile (18th March 2022). Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola affirms that the Escazú Agreement redefines the focus of the country’s foreign policy. https://minrel.gob.cl/news/foreign-minister-antonia-urrejola-affirms-that-the-escazu-agreement.
4 Cision (6th June 2022). Prime Minister concludes successful visit of President of Chile Gabriel Boric. Accesed 8th June 2022. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/prime-minister-concludes-successful-visit-of-president-of-chile-gabriel-boric-886669299.html.
5 CNN Chile (8th June 2022). President Boric en la Cumbre de las Américas: “Creemos en un tipo de desalloro donde nadie se quede atrás”. Accessed 14th June 2022. https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/boric-cumbre-americas-chile-cambiando-mejor_20220608/.
6 Reuters (6th June 2022). Exclusion of countries from the Americas Summit a ‘mistake,’ says Chilean President. Accessed 8th June 2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/exclusion-countries-americas-summit-mistake-says-chilean-president-2022-06-06/.
7 El Comercio (3rd April 2022). Boric abandona Prosur, organizacion abanderada por Pinera y Duque. Accessed 13th May 2022. https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/mundo/presidente-chile-boric-abandona-prosur.html.
8 El País (14th March 2022). Boric: Grupo de Lima, Prosur y Unasur no sirven para unir. Accessed 14th June 2022. https://elpais.bo/internacional/20220314_boric-grupo-de-lima-prosur-y-unasur-no-sirven-para-unir.html.
9 Evan Ellis (15TH February 2022). Alberto Fernández’s Magical Odyssey to Russia and China. Accessed 8th May 2022. https://theglobalamericans.org/2022/02/alberto-fernandezs-magical-odyssey-to-russia-and-china/
10 Riley Green (12th May 2022). Argentina President Alberto Fernandez to visit Berlin. Accessed 13th May 2022. https://www.foreignbrief.com/daily-news/alberto-fernandez-to-visit-berlin/.
11 James Francis Whitehead (13th June 2022). Argentina president delivers damning speech to Biden at a fractured Summit of the Americas. Accessed 14th June 2022. https://www.courthousenews.com/argentina-president-delivers-damning-speech-to-biden-at-a-fractured-summit-of-the-americas/.
12 Mercopress (31st May 2022). Presidents of Paraguay and Argentina oversee dam project. Accessed 6th June 2022. https://en.mercopress.com/2022/05/31/presidents-of-paraguay-and-argentina-oversee-dam-project
13 Mercopress (26th May 2022). Scioli: Argentina and Brazil will guarantee food and energy for the region. Accessed 2nd June 2022. https://en.mercopress.com/2022/05/26/scioli-argentina-and-brazil-will-guarantee-food-and-energy-for-the-region.
14 Mercopress (24th May 2022). Defense ministers to create “ Argentine-Bolivian Working Group”. Accessed 6th June 2022. https://en.mercopress.com/2022/05/24/defense-ministers-to-create-argentine-bolivian-working-group
15 MercoPress (7th April 2022). Latin American Focus, support for Argentina’s Falklands’ claim and diplomacy to solve continental shelf disputes, Boric’s agenda. Accessed 19th April 2022. https://en.mercopress.com/2022/04/07/latin-american-focus-support-for-argentina-s-falklands-claim-and-diplomacy-to-solve-continental-shelf-disputes-boric-s-agenda.
16 Ámbito (4th April 2022). Gabriel Boric and the geographical limits with Argentina: “we are going to solve it diplomatically’. Accessed 16th May 2022. https://www.ambito.com/politica/chile/gabriel-boric-y-los-limites-geograficos-argentina-vamos-resolverlo-manera-diplomatica-n5408858.
