Former Chilean President Gabriel Boric reiterated Sunday his criticism of Chile’s entry into the Shield of the Americas coalition, a group promoted by Donald Trump whose members adopted commitments in economic, security and diplomatic areas.
“I think what is serious is that there were certain consensuses that existed in Chile’s international policy for a long time, which have to do with its integration into the world, with the willingness to talk and generate alliances beyond political cycles that today, unfortunately, have been broken,” Boric said during the Festival of Memory, organized by the Estadio Nacional Memoria Nacional Corporation.
While the government of current Chilean President José Antonio Kast presented Chile’s adherence to the multilateral space designed by the White House as a measure to combat transnational organized crime in a coordinated manner, Boric stressed that “the problem is that the Shield of the Americas goes far beyond that.”
“Chile maintains strategic autonomy, negotiates with everyone it suits to defend our interests based on certain principles that have continued since the return to democracy, and from our perspective that is being put at risk,” Boric stressed.
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Through a joint letter with former President Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010/2014-2018) in late September, Boric expressed reservations about the current government’s decision, calling for “reconsideration” of the country’s entry into Trump’s initiative.
Con @mbachelet hemos escrito esta declaración conjunta ante la adhesión del gobierno de Chile a la iniciativa del Presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, del “Escudo de las Américas”.
Invitamos al Presidente José Antonio Kast a reconsiderar la permanencia de Chile en esta… pic.twitter.com/eC7mVK2u0F
— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) September 24, 2026
According to analysts, the group seeks, in line with the Donroe Doctrine, to align the foreign policy of Latin American countries with U.S. interests and reduce China’s presence in the region.
During his tour of New York, where he spoke at the 81st UN General Assembly, Kast announced the country’s adherence to the Shield of the Americas. Through a Foreign Ministry statement, his administration said the coordination group “generates immediate operational benefits” for combating organized crime.
Along with Chile; Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago are also part of the coalition.
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