Chile's Boric concludes regional tour, offering nation as bridge to Asia

Chilean President Gabriel Boric concluded a productive regional tour in Uruguay, emphasizing Chile's role as a reliable partner in opening new markets and fostering collaboration on security matters, particularly the fight against organized crime. The tour aimed to strengthen ties with several South American nations.

During his visit, Boric met with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi, discussing key issues affecting both countries. Boric presented Chile's potential to act as a logistical and infrastructural hub, facilitating access for Atlantic and Mediterranean nations to Asian markets. He stressed that Chile is ready to offer its services and infrastructure to help other countries reach global markets, including Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

A significant focus of the discussions was enhancing regional cooperation against organized crime. Boric proposed that Uruguay join the 'Santiago Agreement,' an initiative led by Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs designed to coordinate regional efforts against transnational crime. This agreement addresses critical areas such as border control, irregular immigration, arms trafficking, and human trafficking, aiming for governments to proactively counter criminal organizations that operate without borders or laws.

Boric described the tour as highly fruitful, involving meetings with leaders from Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Ecuador, as well as representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Germany. Despite potential ideological differences, Boric and Orsi affirmed their shared commitment to defending democracy and ensuring it is not undermined by violence. Uruguay has expressed strong interest in joining the Santiago Agreement, following similar commitments from leaders in Paraguay.