SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean Defense Minister Adriana Delpiano announced that her country has permanently halted all arms deals with Israel. She confirmed that Chile will not import any weapons from Israel in the future.
Background to the decision: Gaza in the forefront
The minister explained in radio statements that the decision was not related to the quality of Israeli weapons, but rather to a political and moral stance on the massacres in Gaza and the killing of civilians by the occupation forces.
A plan to diversify military cooperation
Delpiano noted that Chilean President Gabriel Boric has developed a plan to diversify international defense partnerships. The plan includes Canada, Japan, and Spain, particularly in the air and naval sectors.
Previous protest steps
- Last May: Withdrawal of military attachés from Tel Aviv.
- October 2023: Chilean ambassador recalled over Gaza war.
- Last year: Officially joined South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
A position deeply rooted in popular consciousness, Chile, which has the largest Palestinian community outside the Arab world, has for years taken a strong stance against the Israeli occupation. The most prominent of these has been the demand for an investigation into potential war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
