Chile’s Ultraconservative Kast Sworn In, Marking Sharp Right Turn

José Antonio Kast officially became Chile's president Wednesday, representing the country's most dramatic conservative shift since democracy returned in 1990. The Trump-inspired leader won decisively in December by promising tough crime measures and strict immigration controls.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Ultraconservative leader José Antonio Kast officially assumed Chile’s presidency Wednesday, ushering in the South American country’s most dramatic conservative turn since democratic rule was restored three decades ago.

The 60-year-old political veteran, who draws inspiration from Trump-style policies, secured a decisive December victory over communist candidate Jeannette Jara by campaigning on tough crime measures and strict immigration enforcement — themes that mirror approaches taken by his American political model.

Kast’s presidency begins as Chile finds itself positioned between competing global powers: the United States working to rebuild Latin American influence and China, which serves as Chile’s primary trade partner along with much of the region.

“U.S.–China rivalry in Latin America has moved from rhetoric to implementation,” explained Mariano Machado, who analyzes risks for Verisk Maplecroft.

According to Machado, Kast’s swearing-in generates significant expectations, with attention focused on potential closer White House ties and the new government’s ability to manage relationships with other important allies.

Though Kast has stayed quiet on divisive domestic and foreign policy matters, he has reached out to Donald Trump’s team and commended American efforts that led to capturing former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

These diplomatic signals became more pronounced when Kast suddenly halted the presidential transition after disagreeing with departing President Gabriel Boric about a proposed undersea cable linking Chile and China. The infrastructure plan faced harsh U.S. opposition and worsened already strained relations between Boric’s government and Washington.

Chilean-American relations have significantly soured during Trump’s second presidency. Boric frequently criticized his American counterpart, once describing the Republican’s governing approach as resembling a “new emperor.”

Trump has clearly favored Kast over Boric, demonstrated by inviting the president-elect to last weekend’s Miami “Shield of the Americas” conference, which gathered regional conservative leaders including El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Argentina’s Javier Milei.

“Everything indicates a very significant alignment of Chile with the directives emanating from Washington,” observed Gilberto Aranda, a University of Chile political expert.

Kast barely lost Chile’s 2021 presidential race to Boric in the final round. His previous campaign’s opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage — combined with his praise for former dictator Augusto Pinochet — was widely rejected by Chilean voters then.

Four years later, his aggressive positions on crime and immigration attracted approximately 60% of voters in a nation struggling with rising organized crime and disappointed by Boric’s unmet promises.

“The defining theme of José Antonio Kast’s future government is a sense of emergency, particularly in ​​security,” Aranda noted, explaining that “the economy and immigration are also framed within this narrative of social decline” attributed to immigrant arrivals.

Kast has expressed admiration for Bukele’s anti-crime strategies, even visiting El Salvador’s massive 40,000-person prison facility last year. He has promised to make illegal immigration a criminal offense, expand mass deportations, and construct “fences and walls” along Chilean borders.

Political observers believe the new administration’s early effectiveness will determine its trajectory over the next four years, as it must work with a split Parliament to maintain stability and advance key 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 explained. “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 — unprecedented since democracy returned — could damage his incoming administration’s reputation, suggesting “very polarized and discordant times are coming,” Aranda warned.

“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 concluded.