US to continue maintaining good ties with Chile, says President Bachelet

Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet spoke on the phone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, discussing bilateral ties and the situation in Venezuela. (Photo: Michelle Bachelet/Facebook)

SANTIAGO—Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet spoke on the phone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, discussing bilateral ties and the situation in Venezuela.

At a press conference on Monday, Bachelet said that “yesterday, at 4.30 p.m., President Trump called me to re-affirm what Vice-President (Mike) Pence told me shortly after taking office, that Chile is a very important country for the US”

She explained that Trump intends to “continue maintaining the good relations we have had. We also spoke of the commercial treaty we have with the US”, adding that Trump had invited her to visit the White House as soon as possible.

Bachelet explained the two leaders spoke about Venezuela and that she had told Trump about the efforts the Chilean foreign ministry was taking with its regional counterparts concerning their troubled neighbor.

Both countries have a noted difference when it comes to free trade. Chile is one of the countries with the most free-trade agreements in the world, including with China, while Trump pulled the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which it had signed with 11 other nations.

Last week, Chile organized a summit with its Pacific Alliance companions and other Asia-Pacific nations, including China, to reinforce their joint commitment to free trade.