Chile and Bolivia Sign Accords During First State Visit in 71 Years

Chilean President José Antonio Kast visited La Paz on October 16, 2026, marking the first state visit by a Chilean leader to Bolivia in 71 years. Kast and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, both conservative allies of U.S. President Donald Trump, signed five agreements focused on economic integration and security. These accords include the modernization of the ACE 22 trade pact, mining cooperation, an energy declaration for electrical interconnection, and a study for a land-based fibre-optic corridor to grant Bolivia access to Pacific subsea cables.

Beyond trade, the leaders pledged to strengthen three border crossings and deepen police coordination to combat organized crime and drug trafficking. Both nations are members of the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas coalition. While Kast expressed a desire for full diplomatic normalization, the restoration of ambassador-level relations, absent since 1978, was not announced. Bolivian Minister of the Presidency Fernando Aramayo stated that restoring such ties is currently premature.

The visit excluded discussions on Bolivia's long-standing demand for a sovereign Pacific land corridor. Former President Evo Morales criticized this omission as "an affront to historical memory." President Paz maintained that the maritime claim remains a permanent objective but argued that historical differences should not hinder national development. Kast concluded the visit by inviting Paz to Chile in 2027, an invitation Paz accepted.