Chilean FM denies discussing Bachelet's UN bid with US counterpart

Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna has firmly stated that Michelle Bachelet's bid for the United Nations Secretary-General position was not a topic of discussion during his recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Pérez Mackenna asserted that the matter was "closed for us a long time ago" and has not been a subject of conversation with the United States or any other country.

The minister, representing the government of President José Antonio Kast, met with Rubio to discuss strategic relations with the Trump administration. Chile's decision to withdraw support for the former president's candidacy was announced in March, a move that contrasted with the backing Bachelet had received from progressive leaders like former Chilean President Gabriel Boric, as well as Brazil and Mexico.

Despite Chile's withdrawal of support, Bachelet, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, continues her campaign for the top UN post, aiming to succeed António Guterres. Pérez Mackenna dismissed concerns that Bachelet potentially securing the role would create an uncomfortable situation for Chile, stating, "I don't think so. If she wins, we will have to congratulate her and work with her as has always been done."

“

It has not been a topic. It is a topic that we closed a long time ago and it has not been a topic for us, neither with the United States nor with the other countries.

Bachelet, 74, is competing against five other candidates, including three other women: Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana. She is also running against Rafael Grossi of Argentina and Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal. The Chilean minister clarified that while his government would not actively campaign for or against any candidate, they would congratulate Bachelet if she were to win.

Bachelet, who served two non-consecutive terms as Chile's president (2006-2010, 2014-2018), is currently on a diplomatic tour of influential countries to bolster her chances. She recently visited Bahrain, a member of the UN Security Council, where she met with Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. In a social media post, Bachelet described the meeting as an opportunity to exchange views on international challenges amid regional conflicts and to reaffirm the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and multilateralism.

“

I don't think so. If she wins, we will have to congratulate her and work with her as has always been done, but it has not been a topic.