The government of Chile announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Israel, ending more than two years without high-level diplomatic representation in that country. The decision marks a significant change in Chilean foreign policy and is interpreted as a sign of rapprochement between Santiago and Jerusalem.
The newly appointed ambassador is Sebastián Videla, a former deputy and one of the figures close to the ruling party. The government emphasized that his appointment aims to inaugurate a new stage in bilateral relations between Chile and Israel. The designation ends more than two years without high-level Chilean diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv and is interpreted as a sign of normalization and rapprochement between both countries.
The vacancy had remained since 2023, when bilateral relations went through a period of diplomatic tension. With the arrival of José Antonio Kast to the presidency, the Chilean Executive expressed its intention to rebuild and strengthen ties with Israel, which it considers a strategic partner in areas such as technology, innovation, security, agriculture, and trade.
The new ambassador will have the mission of reactivating various mechanisms of bilateral cooperation and deepening economic exchanges between both nations. The government highlighted that Israel is one of the main global hubs of technological innovation and that Chile can benefit from a closer relationship in sectors related to productive and scientific development.
