Security & Strategic Review - April 2026

Chile’s President José Antonio Kast is seeking to navigate geopolitical tensions between the US and China, highlighted by a controversy over a proposed project to install an undersea fibre-optic cable linking Chile to Hong Kong. While Kast is ideologically inclined toward boosting ties with the US government of President Donald Trump, China remains Chile’s top trading partner. The cable dispute, which triggered US security concerns, will test Kast’s ability to walk the diplomatic tightrope, as conceding to US pressure and cancelling the project could strain relations with China.