Argentine President Javier Milei Praises Pinochet Dictatorship During Visit to Chile

Argentine President Javier Milei praised the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet during a speech at the Foro Madrid event in Santiago, Chile, on Thursday. Milei described the period following the overthrow of Salvador Allende as one of stability and growth, asserting that Chile became the envy of the region economically. He further claimed that Chile eventually fell into the farce of 21st century socialism, similar to other nations in the region.

During his address to a gathering of conservative leaders, Milei called for the Latin American right to organize against the left. He characterized the current political climate as a global battle between good and evil, where the good represents respect for life, liberty, and property, while the evil consists of radical leftism and terrorism. Milei also alleged that his own administration survived a coup attempt in 2025, citing legislative debates and impeachment attempts as evidence of a conspiracy to break fiscal and economic balance.

Following the event, Milei held a 40 minute meeting with Chilean President José Antonio Kast at the Palacio de La Moneda. The two leaders share views on free markets and maintain hardline stances against illegal immigration and crime. Both are described as key allies of Donald Trump in the region and participate in the Americas Shield initiative against criminal groups.

Reporting on the event differed based on political perspective. A center leaning source focused on the historical context of the Pinochet regime, noting its record of torture and disappearances, while highlighting the diplomatic and economic alignment between Milei and Kast. A center left leaning source framed the speech as an exercise in victimization and polarization, emphasizing Milei's use of apocalyptic language and his lack of judicial evidence regarding the alleged coup in Argentina.