FOREIGN MINISTER URREJOLA: (Via interpreter) Good – I’m unsure if it’s good afternoon or good morning, but thanks for being here with us today. Initially, I would love to make a press release, after which Secretary Antony Blinken may have a couple of remarks. We’ll then go on to Q&A.
It has been truly wonderful to receive my counterpart here on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Antony Blinken, for his first visit to Chile because the Secretary of State of the USA of America. As the primary activity on our agenda, we had a gathering with His Excellency President Gabriel Boric. We discussed topics and global challenges for Chile and the USA. We then were capable of discuss a diversity of regional, multilateral topics in a bigger meeting with our teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Undersecretary Ximena Fuentes.
As allies and friendly countries, we shared directly and admittedly our viewpoints. We noticed that we have now areas of agreement and areas where we are able to move forward in a considerable fashion, so as to help our residents. We talked concerning the priority for our hemisphere that’s the protection of the environment and the oceans – a pillar of Chile’s foreign policy, along the lines with the declaration that was signed on the Americas for the protection of the oceans throughout the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California.
On the bilateral level, we talked concerning the opportunity that can be the subsequent celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of diplomatic relations during 2023, and the way we are going to give you the option to take stock of our links, learning from lessons of the past, some which have been very harsh. And we may talk concerning the way forward for a productive bilateral relationship based on our shared values.
I would love to spotlight that gender issues are a priority for each countries. We due to this fact will seek mechanisms where we are able to share good practices, and include a gender and inclusion perspective within the big range of issues that make up our wealthy and vast bilateral relations. The U.S. Government is working on this issue very much on the domestic level, and we’re very fascinated with learning about that have.
Chile, based on its foreign principles, has worked on multilateral issues and international law, taking a look at the OAS as a relevant institution for the longer term of our region and a mandatory space for dialogue on hemispheric issues. Due to this fact, we must do not forget that starting tomorrow we’re each preparing for our participation within the 52nd General Assembly of the OAS, which can be held in Lima.
We’re once more glad to receive high-level visitors in Chile, because of the health measures and the efforts made to beat the pandemic. This basis for dialogue allows us to take care of challenges and difficult topics that we must work on in a collective and coordinated fashion in order that we may develop into strengthened after the pandemic.
We live through economic issues that affect us all, as does the war in Ukraine, food security, climate change, and other pressing issues. The theme of the OAS general assembly is “Together against Inequality and Discrimination,” which represents an element of the values that Chile promotes continuously internationally. We’d prefer to reiterate Chile’s commitment to the importance of regional issues, with a deal with inclusion, intersectionality, that all the time includes gender, diversity, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and other minorities who’ve been seriously affected by the numerous difficulties that we currently face.
With that, I’ll bring an end to my remarks.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone; and let me first say what a pleasure it’s to be back in Santiago. And to Foreign Minister Urrejola, Antonia, thanks a lot for this morning, for the superb conversations that we had. I’m grateful to President Boric for his time, for the standard of the exchange that we had. And just so thankful for the nice and cozy welcome that we’ve received from our friends and partners here in Chile.
I also need to acknowledge Ambassador Meehan. You might have no idea how pleased I’m to give you the option to say “Ambassador” Meehan. However it is absolutely thrilling to see you here on this latest role. And because the president knows, because the foreign minister knows, there is no such thing as a stronger partner than Ambassador Meehan.
Now we have a relationship that has been sure together fundamentally by shared interests and shared values, and next yr, indeed, we’ll rejoice 200 years of partnership. That partnership spans things that matter most to our people – from economic and security issues, where we have now longstanding ties, to latest areas of cooperation on climate, on energy, on health, even outer space.
And as I said, this relationship relies at the beginning on deeply shared values – a commitment to standing up for democracy and humans rights in our own countries, on this region, and indeed around the globe.
We see the strength and vibrancy of Chile’s democracy within the peaceful, inclusive process the country’s engaged in, with regard to charting a latest structure. We see it in Chile’s leadership in regional organizations dedicated to promoting democracy and advancing human rights, resembling co-chairing the OAS working group on Nicaragua and the recent presidency of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. We see it within the position that this government has taken on holding countries – left, right, liberal, conservative – to the identical standards on human rights and democracy. There needs to be no ideological blocs in relation to defending the principles that we’ve all agreed to within the UN and its charter, on the OAS, within the Inter-American Democratic Charter. That’s why we call them universal rights, and we have now to rise up wherever they’re being threatened.
We’re also grateful for Chile’s clear voice in regional and multilateral organizations just like the OAS, where we’ll be going tomorrow, and the United Nations, where – amongst other things – it has consistently condemned Russia’s unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.
We’re growing our economic ties. Since Chile and the USA signed our Free Trade Agreement in 2003, trade between our countries has greater than quadrupled, reaching greater than $38 billion last yr, supporting tens of 1000’s of jobs in each of our countries. America is Chile’s top source of foreign direct investment, investing greater than $25 billion in high growth areas, like Chile’s renewable energy sector. And we intend to construct on those ties, something we talked about today.
Simply to cite an example, the USA has invested $760 million and provided technical assistance across five solar energy projects in Chile, several of that are already powering homes and business across the country. Chile’s renewable energy sector already provides 45 percent of the country’s electricity supply and helps further Chile’s ambitious clean energy goals, including carbon neutrality by 2050 – something else that we talked about today especially as we head to COP 27 together, in just a little over a month’s time.
Although Chile’s economy has grown over time, so, too has inequity – here in Chile, but in addition more broadly across our own hemisphere. That was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, rising energy and food costs, which has been exacerbated again by the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
But what we see across the board – in all of those areas, is that those hardest hit are ones who can least afford it. Under President Biden, the USA has committed to partnering with Chile and other countries within the region to deliver solutions to the challenges which can be directly impacting the lives of our people. It’s a fundamental a part of demonstrating that democracies like ours can deliver concrete results for our people: address their needs and advance their aspirations.
That’s one in all the explanations that we launched the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. We did this on the Summit of the Americas a couple of months ago. It’s focused on laying the muse for economic growth from the underside up and the center out by expanding digital connectivity, making our supply chains more resilient, including here within the hemisphere; creating clean energy jobs as we decarbonize; and getting regional economic institutions to mobilize more investment and credit, including in middle-income countries. We’re looking forward to working with Chile on this initiative.
We’re also expanding support for those across the region who don’t have access to essential services like health, like education. That’s the thought behind our commitment to work with partners to coach and equip 500,000 local health care employees, across the hemisphere, in five years. This initiative, if fully realized, will make a profound practical difference within the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals across our hemisphere.
We discussed, as well, our growing collaboration on migration, and I expressed my appreciation for Chile’s leadership on this issue, including by hosting roughly half one million Venezuelan migrants and refugees and 180,000 Haitians.
On the Summit of the Americas in June, Chile joined 21 other countries within the hemisphere in supporting the Los Angeles Declaration. This declaration is a crucial moment since it recognizes our shared responsibility in meeting the migration challenge; and goes about it in a way that increases stability, creates opportunities for secure and orderly migration, and supports communities that host migrants, while holding criminals and human traffickers accountable.
But for all of the ties between our nations that we discussed today – and we covered a lot of them, and indeed we probably ran out of time; we could have discussed one other dozen topics. For the entire ties that we talked about today, perhaps none are as deep because the ties between our people.
Just a little bit later today, I’ll meet with alumni of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative. That’s an exchange program that has brought together over a thousand young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across our hemisphere.
Ultimately, it’s ties like these, especially ties that bind the rising generation of Chileans and Americans that give me probably the most hope for the longer term of our relationship and our democracies. And so they’re yet another excuse we’re committed to continuing to strengthen the partnership between our governments.
So again, Antonia, Foreign Minister, thanks very much. It’s superb to be here today with all of you.
Thanks.
MODERATOR: Thanks.
(Via interpreter) First query – Michael Crowley, Recent York Times.
QUESTION: Thanks a lot, Mr. Secretary, Madam Foreign Minister. I used to be not expecting to go first, so I apologize my questions will not be focused as much on the region as some that can follow, but thanks to your understanding.
Secretary Blinken, as you should know, OPEC has just agreed to an oil production cut of two million barrels a day. You joined President Biden on what was a somewhat controversial trip to Saudi Arabia recently that the President justified partly on the grounds of working with the Saudis to manage oil costs. What’s your response to this decision, and are you specifically upset within the Saudis?
Also, Russia has set an October twenty fifth appeal hearing for Brittney Griner. Could this modification the status of negotiations over Griner and Paul Whelan?
And Madam Minister, President Biden’s policy towards Venezuela has essentially left unchanged Trump administration policies toward the Maduro regime, including very severe economic sanctions. Do you think that that is the proper approach for the USA to Venezuela? Thanks each.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Michael, thanks very much. With regard to energy, first, what we’ve been clear about is the necessity for energy supply to fulfill demand. That’s what we’ve been working on across the board, and we’ve done our part. United States oil production is up by greater than 500,000 barrels a day. As you recognize, we have now tapped into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as well to be certain that that energy is in the marketplace and, also, as a technique to stabilize prices. Indeed, energy prices have come down because of this of the efforts that we’ve made.
And in relation to OPEC, we’ve made clear our views to OPEC members. Now we have a multiplicity of interests with regard to Saudi Arabia. And I feel the President laid those out during his trip, and so they include every little thing from regional relationships, including improving relations between Arab countries and Israel; Yemen, where we’re working very closely with Saudi Arabia to attempt to proceed the truce; and quite a lot of other issues, and people were all reflected within the visit. But we’re working each day to be certain that to the perfect of our ability that, again, energy supply from wherever is definitely meeting demand so as to be sure that energy is in the marketplace and that prices are kept low.
With regards to Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, I can’t speculate on what various court dates may or may not mean. What I can let you know is that this: This has my full attention. And as I said before, primary on my list of priorities, around the globe, is doing every little thing we are able to to bring home any American anywhere who’s being arbitrarily or unjustly detained. And that actually applies within the case of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. We, as you recognize, have been having an ongoing discussion with Russian authorities about this. We put a considerable proposal on the table some months ago, and we urge Moscow to simply accept that proposal in order that we are able to resolve no less than this issue. But our imperative is securing their release. And I don’t need to weigh in on the particulars of where we’re. All I can let you know is we’re focused on it each day.
FOREIGN MINISTER URREJOLA: I’ll answer in Spanish if you happen to’re okay with that.
(Via interpreter) With regards to Venezuela, this was a difficulty we discussed with Secretary Blinken at our meeting. Our position is that we hope that the initial contact group, which is in Mexico – we hope that dialogue will initiate again with Maduro’s government in addition to with the Venezuelan opposition, what we would like as a rustic. And we’re, again – agreement with the U.S. and other countries within the region, in addition to other European countries, that dialogue should initiate again in order that in Venezuela in 2024, there could also be free democratic elections.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) After which for the Chilean press, Francisco Valenzuela, Channel 13.
QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Good morning, Secretary of State, Madam Minister. For each of you, I would love to thanks each for being here because there have been some issues that were discussed throughout the – your initial introduction, your remarks, so thanks again to your understanding.
I would love you to speak in greater detail concerning the meeting that Secretary Blinken had with President Boric. What issues did you discuss? Did you talk concerning the U.S. vote for Chile so far as its candidacy for the Human Rights Council, and Chile’s role? As you were mentioning, you talked about negotiations over Venezuela and what the U.S. vision is in relation to leftist governments whose governments have been historically critical of the U.S., and the connection that your country has, Secretary Blinken, with Latin America. Thanks.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks very much for the query. I don’t need to put any words in President Boric’s mouth. That might not be appropriate. But let me just say generally two things. I feel the foreign minister covered a lot of the issues that we discussed, but we also had a conversation about our shared approach and shared priorities which can be reflected in what President Biden is working to do at home in the USA, in addition to more broadly, and that I think President Boric is working to do here in Chile.
And that goes to constructing more equitable and inclusive economies. It goes to coping with the problems which can be front and center within the lives of our people, whether it’s – whether it’s security or whether it’s combating the results of climate change, coping with health issues, including COVID, and dealing in ways in which meet the needs and aspirations of our people. And I feel we agreed that there’s tremendous commonality within the goals that we share and, indeed, most of the approaches that we’re bringing to bear.
With regards to these questions of left, right, and center, here’s what I feel is vital: The political context in each country is different throughout our hemisphere, but there may be a collective task to see that, as we were saying, our democracies actually deliver for our people, that we produce concrete results. And my very own sense is that what motivates electorates in all of our countries is the will to see their governments actually address their concerns, and produce concrete results. And if governments don’t, then chances are high they’ll be voted out, another person can be voted in.
Now we have a – I feel a shared responsibility, but in addition a possibility, working closely together, to do exactly that, to deliver results for our people. And one in all the things that I shared with President Boric – something that I feel he and President Biden had also talked about once they met on the Summit of the Americas – is the conviction of the USA that for virtually the entire challenges that our people face, we simply can’t be effective in addressing them alone. We’d like partnerships. We’d like cooperation. We’d like collaboration. And that starts with the closest of our partners like Chile. That’s the way in which we see the world. That’s the way in which we’re attempting to make progress for our own people, but in addition for people throughout the hemisphere, and I feel that’s something that was very much reflected within the conversation that I used to be very, more than happy and appreciative of getting with President Boric today.
QUESTION: Human Rights Council?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That didn’t – it didn’t come up.
FOREIGN MINISTER URREJOLA: No.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Leon Bruneau from Agence France-Presse.
QUESTION: Hola. Thanks for having this press conference. I desired to ask the query – well, to each of you, actually, but on this – as I understand it, Chile has a special exemption on visas, the U.S. Visa Waiver; and I feel Chile is the one country in South America that has that, and that appears to be in jeopardy from what I understand, or is fragile. And so, I’d prefer to ask la ministra if this was discussed and if you may have given to the USA and Secretary any guarantees on that.
And Mr. Secretary, so following up on that, I ponder if that could be a concern of yours and that it’s possible you’ll cancel this exemption visa – of U.S. Visa Waiver Program. After which I’d prefer to ask a more general query. You mentioned so much – ideological blocks and what have you ever, but meeting in Colombia, in Chile, on Cuba specifically. Always, the U.S. has been told that you may have to vary your policy and what have you ever. Are you listening to the leaders in Latin America which can be telling you the policy at once shouldn’t be going anywhere?
And if I could – I’m sorry, nevertheless it’s the news of the day – ask you a matter on North Korea. Obviously, the – North Korea fired a IRBM missile; it went over Japan. The U.S. and South Korea responded by firing missiles during an exercise, a joint exercise. Do you think that that’s escalating or it has a risk of escalating the method against North Korea? Thanks.
FOREIGN MINISTER URREJOLA: (Via interpreter) With regards to the Visa Waiver Program, we didn’t discuss this issue, during my meeting with the Secretary of State. With regards to that topic, I’d prefer to say that there’s a plan that has been agreed upon with the U.S. to evaluate Visa Waiver Programs. That is something that the U.S. does on an ongoing basis, not only with Chile but with other countries with whom it has this program. We’re working in a really coordinated fashion. Actually, the consular team has been within the U.S. talking to Homeland Security to discuss related issues. We’re on the correct path, but I’d prefer to say again that the assessment of the Visa Waiver Program shouldn’t be something done just for Chile, nevertheless it’s done for all countries which have visa waivers. It’s thoroughly on its way, and we didn’t discuss it once we met, but – because that is under the purview of Homeland Security and there’s a team within the U.S. talking about this issue at once.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: The minister is strictly right, and we’re working very closely together on this. Chile is the one country in Latin America that is a component of the Visa Waiver Program; and we very much need to sustain that, and our teams are working to do this and I’m confident that we are going to reach doing that.
On the opposite questions related to the hemisphere, look, one in all the things I emphasize and need to make clear – and that is something that, again, without ascribing views to President Boric, this can be my understanding from listening so fastidiously to him over these months. We don’t judge countries based on their political orientation, again, whether it’s left, right, center, but simply put, on their commitment to democracy, to human rights, to other shared values. And it’s necessary for us in working with countries around the globe to uphold those basic values and people basic principles, again regardless of where a rustic or a government may fall on the political spectrum; and, for that matter, regardless of our actual relationship with them.
Now we may approach this query otherwise depending on a person country, but the fundamental principle is similar. And in relation to Cuba, I feel you recognize the longstanding views of the USA, including this administration. We’ve taken steps recently, including on remittances, on travel, on visas, to attempt to further help the Cuban people and empower them. At the identical time, we saw as, again, the Cuban people tried to talk up for his or her rights a yr ago, that these protests – peaceful protests – weren’t only violently put down, but people were thrown in jail, including minors, with normally excessive prison terms – 15, 20, 30 years – only for speaking their minds.
And so, we have now to carry the Cuban Government to account, just as we might another government, for denying the Cuban people those rights. Again, we could have different approaches on the perfect technique to try this. And that’s a vital conversation that we’re all the time having because all of us make our judgments, and positively nobody’s infallible in relation to that, including us. And we attempt to – we listen hard and learn from our partners and friends, however the underlying principle is similar.
Shifting gears as you probably did to North Korea, to the Korean Peninsula, since you’ve heard very clearly from us during the last 24 hours, we strongly condemn the DPRK’s dangerous and reckless launch of a long-range missile that flew over Northern Japan, endangering Japanese residents. I spoke almost immediately to my Japanese and Korean counterparts; and I feel you’ve seen that we’re working very closely together, each on a bilateral basis but in addition on a trilateral basis – the USA, Korea, and Japan – to display and strengthen our defensive and deterrent capabilities in light of the threat from North Korea.
We’ve called on the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and interact in a sustained and substantive dialogue. That is something that we have now proposed going back many months. Unfortunately, the DPRK’s response has been to launch more missiles. But we’re taking appropriate defense and deterrent steps with allies and partners. We’ve called for a UN Security Council meeting, and we’re consulting with our partners on next steps.
But I also need to make very clear that our commitment to the defense of our allies and partners, Korea and Japan, is ironclad. We consider that North Korea can be significantly better served by not only refraining from these actions but actually engaging in dialogue. I feel what we’re seeing is that in the event that they proceed down this road, it would only increase the condemnation, increase the isolation, increase the steps which can be taken in response to their actions.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Last query from a Chilean agency, Francisco Valenzuela.
QUESTION: (In Spanish.) Are you able to hear me, Secretary?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I can hear you. I’m just not hearing the interpretation.
STAFF: (Via interpreter) Yes, the interpreter is waiting to receive audio.
QUESTION: I may be just a little bit rusty, but I can attempt to do it like this.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks.
QUESTION: Our second query is pertaining to investment. How does your country observe the constitutional process happening here in Chile, and if in your judgment does it get – does it give some certainty for the American presence in business in our country under role of Chile and – are you hearing me? Okay. Good. Now I’ll switch back to Spanish because some words I just can’t translate.
(Via interpreter) The role of Chile – you possibly can ask me if you happen to need me to repeat the query, Mr. Secretary, or I can proceed – the role of Chile in multilateral treaties resembling with the European Union or the treaty for the transpacific association often known as TPP-11 and Chile weren’t members but – not as members but observers. How do you see Chile in multilateral treaties at the worldwide level?
And I’ll repeat the primary part: If – how do you see investment in relation to the constitutional process in Chile, in addition to lithium within the energy sector? Thanks very much, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. And I appreciate the switching to English. I apologize that my Spanish shouldn’t be adequate to do that in Spanish; I wish it were. But thanks.
First, I’m not going to say anything concerning the substance of the constitutional process. We admire the truth is the method itself and the way in which that Chileans are engaging this in a peaceful and constructive manner. But as to the substance, this is clearly as much as the Chilean people. It’s not a difficulty for the USA, but here’s what I can say.
First, as I noted earlier, we’ve already seen during the last couple of a long time, since our free trade agreement was signed, a considerable increase in trade between us. It’s now about 32, almost 33 billion dollars a yr. And the USA is the leading supplier of foreign direct investment in Chile. So, the connection is already strong, each on the trade side and on the investment side.
But we’re convinced that it might grow stronger still and that our two countries are natural partners in relation to this, and our hemisphere needs to be much more of natural partners together. And I feel you’ll see this play out in quite a lot of ways in which we discussed today and that I alluded to.
First, through the partnership that we recommend on the Summit of the Americas for prosperity within the hemisphere, there are quite a lot of areas where, working together, we are able to I feel significantly increase trade and investment, including in Chile. For instance, the partnership that we’re designing together focuses on things like constructing strong supply chains within the Western Hemisphere. All of us saw what happened once we had challenges with our supply chains during COVID. We’d like to be certain that that doesn’t occur again. But there’s also tremendous opportunity there for business, for investment.
Similarly, due to Chile’s leadership on climate, we see a future together where we’re working together and investing together, including here in Chile, on clean technology and on green economy jobs. These are the roles of the longer term, and Chile could be very, thoroughly placed, I feel, to supply a lot of those jobs. And we talked about that today, and I feel we’re taking a look at ways to generate more American investment. We’re already done so much on solar, as we’ve discussed. But there’s so much more to be done.
At the identical time, re-energizing and refocusing the international financial institutions, including the multilateral development banks here in our own hemisphere, in ways that truly address the needs of individuals and put investment and put loans and put money into projects that can actually make a difference of their lives – that, too, is something that we’re focused on together and that I feel can create much more opportunity here in Chile.
So, I feel across the board we have now a robust foundation, but there may be far more that we are able to do. And we bring to it the identical perspective, which is the necessity to do it in a way that’s inclusive and that actually tries to create growth for everybody – not just a few, but for everybody. That’s a shared focus of each of our governments and it animates what we’re going to be doing together within the years ahead. Thanks.
FOREIGN MINISTER URREJOLA: (Via interpreter) On the primary issue, I’d prefer to return to the last item that Secretary Blinken said about how we’re working with the USA on different topics related to investment, but especially from the angle of the fight against climate change and the importance of renewable energy. That is something on our agenda with the USA, in addition to with European countries and other countries – at the worldwide level, on the UN. It is a consistent issue. The president’s bilateral agenda, I’ve discussed it with many foreign ministers. There’s an interest in lots of countries in investing in renewable energy, and as Secretary Blinken said, supply chains, lithium, are necessary topics for us as well. We share the perspective that we must review and refocus the work on multilateral banks.
I’d also prefer to remind you of the president’s visit to Canada when he met with the minister of the economy, Canadian businesses, and so they talked specifically about Canadian investments. It’s a vital partner for Chile. And as you mentioned, I think, there was a vital conversation in that regard, and we’re working hand-in-hand with Canadian firms. Same thing with the USA within the framework of the Summit of the Americas. The minister and the president met with U.S. businesses as well. The identical thing happened on the UN with Mario Marcel, the Council of the Americas.
So, we’re working very closely with different businesses. I used to be in Spain, met with Spanish businesses. There’s an open agenda in relation to investment. I feel that we’re well on the correct path. I’d prefer to say, as well, that we have now negotiating teams, this – taking a look at the modernization agreement with the EU this week. Because the president has said, the thought is to give you the option to bring those to a detailed by the tip of the yr. We’re on the correct path. And so, every little thing I’m saying, in addition to what Secretary Blinken has said, shows that we’re working very strongly on these issues.
MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) We would love to thanks for coming to this press conference. We request that the national press allow our U.S. colleagues to depart because they need to join the Secretary’s delegation. Thanks very much.