Chilean President Gabriel Boric Announces Strong Stance on Arms Embargo Against Israel – Summons Israeli Ambassador for Questioning

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Announces Strong Stance on Arms Embargo Against Israel – Summons Israeli Ambassador for Questioning

Valparaíso, Chile – June 1:
Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Sunday (June 1) announced that in the final nine months of his administration, he will accelerate initiatives to increase investments in renewable energy and intensify pressure on Israel. Boric has consistently maintained a firm stance regarding Israel's role in the war in Gaza. Recently, he withdrew military officials from the Chilean embassy and summoned the Israeli ambassador for questioning.

In his final annual address to the National Congress, which lasted three hours, Boric spoke on a wide range of issues including crime, infrastructure, the economy, and abortion rights.

However, the most intense reactions—both applause and protest—came when he declared that Chile would enact legislation to ban imports from "illegally occupied territories" and expressed support for the arms embargo efforts against Israel led by Spain.

Boric also announced that a new law will be introduced aimed at accelerating decarbonization—specifically, reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. Under this initiative, investments in renewable energy will increase, coal-fired power plants will be gradually phased out, and the target for achieving a carbon-free national power grid will be moved forward from 2040 to 2035.

He further stated that a separate bill is nearly ready for approval that would speed up the permitting process for new projects. If implemented, this legislation could reduce approval times by 30 to 70 percent.

Boric said, “If we do not modernize and expedite the permitting process, investment projects will not be able to reach their full potential.” He also revealed plans to expand lithium mining through the state-owned copper company Codelco.

Critics have accused Boric of failing to deliver on his major reform promises—particularly after two failed referendums to replace the dictatorship-era constitution.

Acknowledging these criticisms, Boric remarked, “Have we been able to achieve everything, to the depth we had hoped? No, but we have moved forward on the path—within the circumstances under which we have had to govern.”