(Bloomberg) – The US government has decided to prohibit a Chilean cabinet minister and two other officials from entering the country. This action is part of a diplomatic response to Chile’s growing trade connections with China, including a proposed undersea cable that would link the two countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused these officials of threatening regional security in a statement released on Friday, which led to individual travel bans.
According to the statement, “These individuals and their immediate family members will be generally ineligible for entry into the United States, and any US visas held by them have been revoked.” However, the names of the officials were not disclosed.
This rare decision comes just weeks before the inauguration of right-wing President-elect José Antonio Kast, who is known to be a close ally of the White House.
At a press conference, Chile's Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren clarified that the US's concerns revolve around a request from two private companies aiming to lay a submarine cable connecting Chile to Hong Kong.
“The US government believes that cable could pose a threat to its security,” van Klaveren stated. He also noted that the proposal from Chinese companies is still in early discussions and a final decision has yet to be made.
Chile's Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, confirmed that he is one of the three officials facing visa cancellations. The identities of the other two officials remain unclear.
The statement attributed to Rubio indicated that these officials “knowingly directed, authorized, funded, provided significant support to, and/or carried out activities that compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and undermined regional security in our hemisphere,” also making a pointed remark about outgoing leftist President Gabriel Boric.
Due to confidentiality regarding visa records, a US official previously mentioned that the names of the affected individuals would not be made public.
Muñoz is perceived as a technocrat and has been at the forefront of efforts to establish Chile as a digital hub by developing a series of undersea cables to enhance connectivity. The latest project mentioned by the minister, which is co-financed by Alphabet Inc.'s Google, will connect Chile to Australia.
He emphasized that “we don’t discriminate regarding the origins of different projects and evaluate them based on their own merits,” while asserting that projects cannot be approved if they threaten Chile’s sovereignty or national security.
Despite a complicated modern history rooted in the 1973 US-backed military coup, the US and Chile maintain close relations. Chile is the only country in the region with a US visa waiver, meaning its citizens typically do not need a visa to travel to the US. Meanwhile, China is Chile’s largest trading partner, primarily due to copper exports.
Chile’s foreign ministry expressed surprise over the visa cancellations and rejected the US claim that it compromised “the security of the continent or third countries.” They described the US announcement as inconsistent with Chile's historical ties to Washington, which it considers a “strategic ally,” and noted that van Klaveren had called on US Ambassador Brandon Judd to clarify the reasons behind the decision.
The incoming Foreign Affairs Minister, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, stated it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment until Kast takes office on March 11, adding that more information would be necessary to analyze the US measure.
“As the incoming government, we will do our utmost to ensure that foreign policy fosters the best possible relationships with all countries,” he remarked.
Rubio is expected to attend Kast's inauguration next month.
Political scientist Patricio Navia from New York University remarked, “This is a warning sign that should not be taken lightly. The escalating confrontation between China and the US is putting South American countries in a difficult position.”
Navia warned that Chile may have to choose sides. “It is in Chile’s best interest to stay friends with the US while also maintaining strong trade and cooperation ties with China. Being forced to choose could have devastating consequences for Chile.”