The second round of the presidential election in Chile marked the end of a series of plebiscites in Latin America in 2025. Given Chile’s geopolitical importance in the context of the struggle between world powers for rare earth metals, the personality of the newly elected president, José Antonio Kast, and his foreign policy agenda are attracting attention in the most remote corners of the world.

Who are you, Señor Kast?

Kast holds a degree in law, is a devout Catholic, and is a politician with nearly three decades of experience. His path to the presidency was far from straightforward: his current victory was his third attempt to win the highest office in the land. Kast has consistently opposed abortion, same-sex marriage, divorce, and euthanasia, defending the model of a “traditional society,” which makes him one of the most radical figures on the Chilean political spectrum.

The public is equally fascinated by his family’s origins. Kast’s parents emigrated to Chile in 1950, leaving post-war Germany. His father, Michael Kast, was a member of the Nazi party, the NSDAP, during World War II and served in the German army. This fact has become an additional source of public debate and criticism, especially against the backdrop of the new president’s active international rhetoric.

Viewing regional issues through the prism of US interests

The new president’s foreign policy worldview is shaped by the logic of ensuring sovereignty and an instrumental approach to international obligations. In his public speeches, he consistently puts forward the idea that international institutions and agreements are not self-sufficient, but must serve exclusively the national interests of the state. Now, the emphasis will shift toward benefits, security, and control.

A central element of the new course is a rethinking of relations with the United States. In Kast’s rhetoric, Washington appears not as a source of pressure or a historical “hegemon” but as a necessary strategic partner in the face of growing transnational threats. At the same time, it is fundamentally important that this is not a matter of declarative loyalty or automatic adherence to the American agenda. On the contrary, the politician consistently emphasizes the pragmatic nature of the rapprochement: cooperation is possible only where interests coincide, while distance is maintained where they diverge. He sees the US primarily as a guarantor of regional order and a key player in the fight against transnational crime, illegal migration, and drug cartels. This approach allows him to justify rapprochement with Washington while distancing himself from accusations of losing foreign policy independence.

It is already becoming clear at an early stage that this course will inevitably lead to a review of regional priorities and formats for cooperation. He views illegal migration, transnational crime, drug trafficking, and the activities of radical political groups not as social or........

© New Eastern Outlook