The political polarization that has become prominent in Latin America in recent years raises the question of to what extent interstate relations can be maintained independently of the ideological orientations of governments. The relationship between Brazil and Chile provides a striking example in this regard. Despite the differing political stances of the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva administration in Brazil and the José Antonio Kast administration in Chile, the continuation of economic, diplomatic, and strategic relations between the two countries demonstrates that foreign policy is not shaped solely by ideological affinity. The 7th Brazil-Chile Bilateral Commission, held in Brazil on August 4, 2026, also reveals that the two countries continue to develop their relations based on long-term national interests, transcending current political circumstances.[i]
One of the key features of Brazil-Chile relations is the increasing institutionalization of bilateral cooperation. Changes in government within democratic systems can create certain differences in foreign policy priorities. However, long-term interests such as economic interdependence, trade, investments, infrastructure projects, and security are more enduring than government changes. The relationship between Brazil and Santiago is an example of this continuity. Maintaining contacts between the two countries through regular diplomatic mechanisms prevents the relationship from becoming dependent on personal affinity between heads of state or the ideological alignment of specific governments.
This situation is particularly important in the current environment in Latin America, where political differences between right-wing and left-wing governments are becoming increasingly pronounced. The direct transfer of ideological polarization in the region to foreign policy has the potential to weaken the continuity of regional cooperation mechanisms. Instead of transforming political differences into a factor that determines all aspects of bilateral relations, Brazil and Chile prioritize shared economic and strategic interests. Thus, the relationship between the two countries develops through a pragmatic foreign policy approach rather than ideological alignment.
The economic dimension of bilateral relations constitutes one of the most prominent areas of this pragmatic approach. Brazil’s position as one of Chile’s most important trading partners, and its role as a significant source of foreign investment in the country, creates a strong interdependence between the two economies. Chile, however, is not considered merely a South American market by Brazil. Its location on the Pacific coast and its trade relations with Asia-Pacific economies make Chile a strategic partner for Brazil in accessing Pacific markets. Therefore, economic cooperation between the two countries encompasses not only increasing bilateral trade volume but also diversifying Brazil’s access to global trade networks.
In this context, the Interoceanic Corridor emerges as one of the most important projects strengthening the strategic nature of bilateral relations. This initiative, aiming to connect the Atlantic and Pacific coasts via land transportation, holds both economic and geopolitical significance for the physical integration of South America. For Brazil, more efficient access to Pacific ports contributes to diversifying logistical options, particularly for exports to Asian markets. For Chile, strengthening ties with the Brazilian economy increases its potential to become a key trade transit point between South America and the Asia-Pacific region.
The importance of the corridor is not limited solely to reducing transportation times or logistics costs. At a time when global supply chains are becoming more fragile due to geopolitical crises, trade wars, and international conflicts, the creation of alternative trade routes is gaining strategic importance for states. Therefore, connections developed between the Atlantic and Pacific in South America are considered among the tools that can build resilience against external economic shocks, as well as regional economic integration. The Brazil-Chile cooperation is thus also linked to increasing regional capacity to cope with uncertainties in the global economy.
The expansion of cooperation between the two countries into the defense sector demonstrates that the relationship goes beyond economic partnership. Chile’s interest in the KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft developed by Brazil shows the technological capacity that the Brazilian defense industry has reached on a regional scale. The maritime and shipbuilding capacity developed by Chile through its shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair company ASMAR also reveals Santiago’s efforts to strengthen its own technological capabilities in the defense industry. Developing these two capacities through cooperation has the potential to contribute to a certain extent to reducing the dependence of the defense industry in South America on foreign suppliers.
This approach in the field of defense is also directly linked to the concept of strategic autonomy. The long-standing dependence of Latin American countries on manufacturers outside the region for their defense systems creates various limitations in terms of military capacity, as well as technology transfer and industrial policies. More comprehensive cooperation in the defense industry between Brazil and Chile not only increases military capacity but also contributes to qualified employment, technological development, and strengthening domestic production capacity. Therefore, defense cooperation becomes an element of economic and technological development alongside security policy.
It would be useful to evaluate these developments in terms of regional integration discussions in Latin America. The fact that regional integration initiatives have often strengthened or weakened depending on the ideological affinities of governments in the past has been one of the fundamental problems hindering institutional continuity in South America. The relationship between Brazil and Chile, however, presents a different model for developing integration based on more concrete interests. Interdependence in areas such as transportation corridors, investments, energy projects, and the defense industry allows for the emergence of more lasting cooperation mechanisms than political shifts.
Maintaining relations despite the political differences between Lula and the Caste administrations is therefore of particular importance. If foreign policy is conducted solely on the basis of ideological preferences, frequent government changes in Latin America lead to a constant redefinition of regional relations. In contrast, prioritizing national interests, economic complementarity, and institutional mechanisms increases predictability in interstate relations. The current approach of Brazil and Chile demonstrates that political differences do not necessarily hinder diplomatic and economic cooperation.
This approach is also consistent with Brazil’s strategy of maintaining its position in South America. Brazil’s ability to sustain its regional influence does not depend solely on developing relationships with governments ideologically aligned with it. As the region’s largest economy, Brazil’s capacity to work with governments of diverse political orientations is a fundamental condition for its claim to regional leadership. Developing relations with Chile despite political differences also demonstrates Brazil’s pragmatic approach to regional diplomacy.
For Chile, maintaining strong relations with Brazil contributes to strengthening its economic and diplomatic position in South America. While Santiago’s connections with Pacific economies are important, the strategic partnership with South America’s largest economy enables the country to be more strongly integrated into regional economic networks. Thus, Chile creates a foreign policy space that allows it to pursue a Pacific orientation alongside economic integration in South America.
In conclusion, the current trajectory of Brazil-Chile relations constitutes a significant example demonstrating that foreign policy in Latin America can be conducted beyond ideological polarization. Political differences between the two countries have not disappeared, but they are not overshadowed by long-term interests such as trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, technology, and defense. This contributes to bilateral relations being shaped by institutionalized state interests rather than personal or ideological affinity.
[i] Pacheco, Paulo. “Brasil y Chile, una relación que trasciende las coyunturas”, El País, https://elpais.com/chile/2026-08-11/brasil-y-chile-una-relacion-que-trasciende-las-coyunturas.html, (Date of Access: 16.08.2026).
