Ultraconservative leader, José Antonio Kast, is set to be sworn in as Chile’s president on Wednesday, marking what analysts describe as the country’s most significant shift to the political right since the restoration of democracy in 1990.
Kast, a veteran politician inspired by the policies of Donald Trump, secured a decisive victory in December’s election.
He defeated government-backed communist candidate Jeannette Jara after campaigning on pledges to tackle crime and reduce illegal immigration, positions that echo approaches adopted by his U.S. counterpart.
Internationally, the lawyer and head of the Republican Party of Chile assumes office at a moment of strategic tension. Chile finds itself between the United States, which is attempting to strengthen its influence across Latin America, and China, the principal trading partner for Chile and much of the region.
“U.S.–China rivalry in Latin America has moved from rhetoric to implementation,” said Mariano Machado, an analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
Machado said Kast’s inauguration at age 60 has generated considerable attention, particularly regarding how closely his administration will align with the White House and how effectively it will manage relations with other international partners.
Although Kast has largely avoided taking public positions on some controversial domestic and global issues, he has signaled openness toward the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. He also praised the U.S. operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
These signals became more pronounced when Kast abruptly halted the presidential transition after a dispute with outgoing president Gabriel Boric. The disagreement centered on a proposed submarine cable project intended to link Chile with China, which had drawn strong criticism from Washington and worsened diplomatic strains between the Boric government and the United States.
Relations between Chile and the United States had already weakened during Trump’s second administration. Boric had frequently criticized Trump, even describing the Republican leader’s governing style as that of a “new emperor.”
Trump has openly expressed support for Kast, including inviting the president-elect to attend the recent “Shield of the Americas” summit in Miami. The gathering brought together several right-leaning leaders from across the region, including Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and Javier Milei of Argentina.
“Everything indicates a very significant alignment of Chile with the directives emanating from Washington,” said Gilberto Aranda, a political analyst at the University of Chile.
Kast previously ran for president in 2021 but narrowly lost to Boric in the runoff election. At the time, his strong opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, along with his praise for former dictator Augusto Pinochet, faced strong rejection from voters.
Four years later, however, his tough stance on security and migration resonated with the electorate. Roughly 60 percent of voters backed him amid rising organized crime and widespread disappointment among Chileans who felt Boric’s ambitious promises had not been fulfilled.
“The defining theme of José Antonio Kast’s future government is a sense of emergency, particularly in security,” said Aranda, adding that “the economy and immigration are also framed within this narrative of social decline” blamed on the arrival of immigrants.
Kast has publicly praised the security policies of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and even visited the country’s massive 40,000-capacity mega prison last year. He has pledged to criminalize illegal immigration, expand deportations and construct “fences and walls” along Chile’s borders.
Analysts say the new government’s ability to respond quickly will be crucial in shaping its trajectory over the next four years. Kast will have to navigate a divided parliament in order to maintain governability and push through key legislative initiatives.
“If there is volume, traction and a clear direction in the first 100 days, the political establishment generally seeks alignment or at least avoids hindering the administration’s priorities,” Machado said. “If that clarity isn’t seen in the first 100 days … the opposite happens.”
Kast’s decision to suspend the transition process just one week before taking office — an unprecedented move since Chile returned to democracy — could affect perceptions of the incoming administration, Aranda warned, suggesting that “very polarized and discordant times are coming.”
“The future ruling party will need the consent of Congress to pass laws, and a very strained relationship from the outset could negatively impact subsequent dialogue in Congress,” he said.
