Kast and Paz open the way in La Paz to normalising Chile-Bolivia relations

Chilean President José Antonio Kast and his Bolivian counterpart Rodrigo Paz signed agreements on Friday in La Paz to move towards normalizing diplomatic relations, a process that has been stalled since 1978. The two governments also signed economic integration and border security agreements. Chilean President Kast described the historic visit as the first official bilateral visit by a Chilean president to Bolivia in over seven decades.

However, no mention was made of restoring embassies. President Paz acknowledged that Bolivia and Chile have "historical differences," citing the constitutional claim to sea access. Despite this, Paz emphasized that Bolivia recognizes the need to resolve past issues to promote development. Chilean President Kast invited Paz to a state visit to Chile in 2027.

Both countries signed agreements on mining integration, electricity interconnection, bi-oceanic corridors, border security, and the migration status of Bolivians residing in Chile. They also discussed revitalizing the Arica-La Paz railway, established in the 1904 treaty between Bolivia and Chile, enhancing the 24-hour operation at the Tambo Quemado-Chungará border crossing, and combating smuggling.

More than 76% of Bolivia's foreign trade passes through Chilean ports of Arica and Iquique. Bolivia's claim to sovereign access to the sea, lost at the International Court of Justice in 2018, remained off the agenda. Bolivia's Minister of the Presidency, Fernando Aramayo, noted that while Bolivia will not renounce its historical claim, focusing on the current agenda is crucial.

The Bolivian opposition criticized the visit over the destruction of part of a seized shipment of Bolivian timber in Chile, allegedly containing drug traces. Deputy Elena Pachacute of the Unidad alliance stated that the situation is tense and hypocritical.