Chilean President Gabriel Borik recently did not take a call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding concerns over Chile’s position on Israel.
In recent statements, Borik has been outspoken about Israel’s military actions against Hamas, even going so far as to label them as “genocide” in Gaza. He recalled the Chilean ambassador from Israel in late October 2023 and has announced the exclusion of Israeli participation in Chile’s International Air and Space Fair. His government also expressed support for South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
As Borik’s term is set to end in March 2026, he is unable to run for immediate re-election. During his current term, he has urged Chilean lawmakers to implement a boycott of Israeli products and, in a speech to Parliament in June, accused Israel of perpetrating “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.” This has drawn criticism, particularly from Israeli diplomats who claim the boycott would harm Chile itself, although Borik maintained that it was about principles, rather than economic interests.
According to reports, Rubio attempted to discuss concerns with Borik last Friday before a speech, particularly regarding possible diplomatic actions Chile might take against Israel. However, Borik did not engage directly and, as a result, Rubio spoke with Foreign Minister Albert van Kravellen instead.
The dialogue between Rubio and Van Kravellen lasted about ten minutes, during which it was said to be “inevitable” that the Israeli situation came up. It was reported that Van Kravellen assured Rubio that Borik would not sever ties with Israel.
Rubio, in his conversation with Van Kravellen, also mentioned U.S. efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, portraying the exchange as positive. Van Kravellen later clarified that Borik was occupied with preparing for his speech and had not, in any way, meant to disrespect Rubio by not speaking with him directly.
Van Kravellen reiterated that such interactions between the U.S. Secretary and other nations’ leaders are not unusual, pointing out that it’s common for a president to delegate calls while focusing on legislative duties.
In his recent congressional speech, Borik did not sever diplomatic ties with Israel but was critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting lawmakers should pass bills to boycott Israeli goods and halt arms sales to prevent violence, particularly against children.
His remarks emphasized support for broader proposals, including an arms embargo endorsed by the Spanish government, reflecting a strong stance against violence in conflict areas.
