Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna responded from the Congreso Nacional (Chile's legislature) to the United States ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd. The diplomat had tied Washington's support on the Strait of Magellan to Chilean cooperation on issues that are priorities for his country.
According to T13, the minister of foreign affairs was categorical. "The Strait of Magellan was, is and always will be Chilean", he said. He added that Chile does not need anyone's support to defend its sovereignty and has done so "for 200 years".
"We are here to defend our sovereignty and we will always do so", the foreign minister insisted to the press at Congress.
Judd spoke during the Global Trade Day event. According to ADN Radio, he argued there that US backing requires reciprocity. "If you want a country that helps protect your rights over the Strait of Magellan, if you want all those things, then you will also have to work with us on the issues that are important to us", he warned.
In the same remarks, the ambassador defended Chile's joining the Shield of the Americas. It is a security pact that brings together 15 countries to coordinate the fight against transnational organized crime. He also referred to the possibility of refining copper in Chile and to port expansion.
Judd also spoke about the tariff negotiation with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). He avoided giving details because, he said, he is not directly involved in it. Even so, he predicted the talks would end up "going very very well for Chile".
The remarks come at a sensitive moment for southern sovereignty. The Cámara de Diputados (Chile's lower house) recently voted on seven resolutions on the subject, following statements by senior Argentine officials that questioned already established boundaries. Judd did not specify against whom the United States would help protect Chilean rights.
Asked whether the government will reprimand the ambassador, Pérez Mackenna replied: "It is something we will obviously have to evaluate". So far, the Cancillería (Chile's foreign ministry) has not announced any formal measure.
