THE Philippines has renewed its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Chile as the two Pacific nations mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
This developed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro paid a courtesy call on President José Antonio Kast Rist of Chile at the Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago.
Lazaro conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s greetings to Kast, who assumed office as Chile’s chief executive in March 2026. The secretary also invited Kast to visit the Philippines.
The call covered topics of mutual interest, including the recent conclusion of negotiations for the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement-the Philippines’ first free trade agreement in Latin America. Both officials share the view that the CEPA holds immense promise in bringing the two APEC economies even closer.
They also discussed bilateral cooperation in the economic and maritime sectors, as well as people-to-people exchanges during the call. On expanding relations with Chile, the SFA commented that ‘the Pacific Ocean does not separate us; [but rather] links our destinies.’
The secretary was in Santiago for an official visit, which also included a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Pérez Mackenna.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Chile were established on July 4, 1946. Some 1,017 make up the Filipino community in Chile by the end of 2025.