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Chile’s election of an ultraconservative leader has created another vocal ally for US President Donald Trump in a lithium-rich region where China has emerged as the dominant economic partner, positioning the South American country at the centre of an intensifying superpower rivalry.
In what was probably Chile’s sharpest rightward shift since the end of its military dictatorship in 1990, Jose Antonio Kast, a right-wing former lawmaker who campaigned on Trump-style hardline positions on crime and immigration, won Sunday’s presidential run-off election, defeating the government-backed communist candidate Jeannette Jara.
While Kast’s victory signals a probable shift towards more market-driven lithium policies and closer alignment with Washington’s strategic priorities, Chinese analysts downplayed its implications for Chile’s approach to its largest trading partner, China.
Beijing congratulated Kast on his election on Monday, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun highlighting the “strong momentum” in bilateral relations since Chile became the first South American country to establish diplomatic ties with China 55 years ago.
“China stands ready to work with Chile’s new government to further deepen mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation in all areas, advance the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to new levels and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries,” he said.
In a victory speech to supporters in Santiago on Sunday evening, Kast, 59, vowed to bring “real change” after he takes office on March 11, while acknowledging that there were “no magical solutions” and that progress would require perseverance and time.
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