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Chile - US Relations

Owing to a series of misunderstandings, including the blunders of an over-zealous diplomat, the wrong-headed ideas of many American newspapers, and the seeming interference of American warships during the great Chilean civil war of 1891, the US became extremely unpopular in that vigorous republic of the South Pacific. United States Minister Egan was accused of taking the side of Balmaceda during the Civil War of 1891. A foreign minister is supposed to be neutral during political contests and civil wars. His alleged action led to bad feeling against the US government. Then followed the deplorable Baltimore incident, when a number of American sailors on shore-leave in the port of Valparaiso, got into trouble with some of the rougher elements of the port, and a few were killed and several more wounded. The US lost patience with what was termed Chilean dilatory conduct; took the law into its own hands, and eventually issued an ultimatum to Chile demanding financial redress. There was nothing for her to do but to grant the US request. But the scar was long in healing, and it may fairly be said that the US had less cordial friends in Chile than in any other American republic, with the possible exception of Colombia.

Relations between the United States and Chile have reached historic highs in recent years. The U.S. Government applauded the rebirth of democratic practices in Chile in the late 1980s and early 1990s and sees the maintenance of a vibrant democracy and a healthy and sustainable economy as among the most important U.S. interests in Chile. Besides the landmark U.S.-Chile FTA, the two governments consult frequently on issues of mutual concern, including in the areas of multilateral diplomacy, security, culture, and science.

A number of U.S. companies and agencies supported the effort led by the Government of Chile that resulted in the October 2010 rescue of 33 miners trapped in the San Jose mine. Several U.S. companies were involved in the drilling effort that established the escape tunnel. Many private companies and organizations offered or supplied equipment, technology, or expert advice in support of the rescue effort. The technical expertise of U.S. state and federal government agencies, including NASA, also assisted the rescue effort.

In June 2008, then-President Michelle Bachelet and then-Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger launched the Chile-California Partnership for the 21st Century. This collaboration was reaffirmed by President Pinera during a September 2010 visit to California. The partnership fosters collaboration between individuals, government, and the private sector in areas such as agriculture, energy efficiency, environmental resource management, and education. Chile and Massachusetts plan to enter into a similar agreement in December 2011.

The U.S. Chile Equal Opportunities Scholarship Program, inaugurated in 2007, was established to sponsor English and academic studies for Chilean PhD students who come from disadvantaged and rural areas that have not traditionally had access to English language schools or study abroad opportunities. The program has been quite successful, becoming a model for other international scholarships programs with Chile.

The U.S. Government and the Government of Chile have frequent high-level interaction. President Pinera met with President Barack Obama at the Nuclear Security Summit in April 2010 in Washington, DC, and President Obama visited Chile in March 2011. President Pinera participated in the APEC Summit hosted by President Obama in Hawaii in November 2011. Then-President Bachelet met with President Obama at the Summit of the Americas in April 2009 and traveled to Washington for another visit in June 2009. Vice President Joseph Biden traveled to Chile in March 2009 to participate in meetings of the Progressive Governance Network and hold bilateral talks with President Bachelet. In March 2010, in the wake of the February 27 earthquake, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Chile to extend the sympathy and solidarity of the American people. She also brought with her the first of the supplies and assistance sent by the U.S. Government in support of Chile’s relief efforts.