On 22 September 2026, the government of President José Antonio Kast joined the Shield of the Americas, an initiative presented by the Foreign Ministry as a “voluntary coordination framework” to address transnational threats. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was explicit that the initiative includes securing control of “pipelines, rare earth elements, and agricultural trade corridors”. Opposition deputies denounced that the government avoids Congress and includes undeclared commitments on critical minerals and regional security. The accession was made without a citizen participation process or broad public debate, generating concern in civil society organizations about the opacity of the decision and its implications for sovereignty, transparency, and the ability to influence policies on critical minerals and security.
