Chile–Russia relations
Encyclopedia
Chile–Russia relations refers to the bilateral
foreign relations
between Chile
and Russia
. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and the USSR countries happened on December 11, 1944. Chile has an embassy in Moscow
and two honorary consulates (in Saint Petersburg
and Vladivostok
). Russia has an embassy in Santiago.
Both countries are full members of APEC, the International Monetary Fund
, and the United Nations
.
on 11 December 1944, however they were short-lived when they were severed on 27 October 1947 due to the intensification of the Cold War
and the Communist Party of Chile
being banned. After the accession of Christian Democrat
Eduardo Frei Montalva
to the Chilean presidency
on 3 November 1964, relations were re-established on 24 November 1964, and it wasn't until 1967 that bilateral treaties were signed by the two states. The election of Salvador Allende
was welcomed by the Soviets, although relations were kept at a low-level. When the United States
cut-off financing to Chile over the latters nationalisation of its copper
industry, Allende was forced to seek alternative relationships for finance and trade, which culminated in a high-level Chilean delegation visiting the Soviet Union in May 1971, at which it was agreed that a Soviet-Chilean Trade Commission would be established. Allende went on a state visit
to the Soviet Union in December 1972 with the aim of securing aid and financing from Leonid Brezhnev
, but his visit was not a success. Allende was overthrown in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973, and relations with the Soviets were again cut on 22 September 1973, and it was not until 11 March 1990 that they were restored.
President
Ricardo Lagos
paid a state visit to Russia
in October 2002, and President Vladimir Putin
paid a state visit to Chile in November 2004, in conjunction with the APEC summit being held in Santiago
, marking the first visit by a Russian head-of-state to South America
. Michelle Bachelet
paid an official visit to Russia from 24 April 2009 at the invitation of Dmitry Medvedev
.
Chile is also looking forward to establishing new export outlets in Russia for its growing blueberry output . It has exhibited to the last IFE show in Moscow for the first time. In 2007-2008, Russia leapfrogged Spain
to become Chile’s third largest fruit export market in Europe, with overall exports to the country (mainly apples and table grapes) growing by 59 percent, from 64,554 tonnes to 102,321 tonnes.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
foreign relations
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
between Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and the USSR countries happened on December 11, 1944. Chile has an embassy in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and two honorary consulates (in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
). Russia has an embassy in Santiago.
Both countries are full members of APEC, the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
History
Chile established diplomatic relations with the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
on 11 December 1944, however they were short-lived when they were severed on 27 October 1947 due to the intensification of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and the Communist Party of Chile
Communist Party of Chile
The Communist Party of Chile is a Chilean political party inspired by the thoughts of Karl Marx and Lenin. It was founded in 1922, as the continuation of the Socialist Workers Party, and in 1934 it established its youth wing, the Communist Youth of Chile .In the last legislative elections in Chile...
being banned. After the accession of Christian Democrat
Christian Democrat Party of Chile
The Christian Democratic Party is a political party in Chile and governs as part of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. In the 2009 election it won 19 congress seats and 9 senate seats....
Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...
to the Chilean presidency
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
on 3 November 1964, relations were re-established on 24 November 1964, and it wasn't until 1967 that bilateral treaties were signed by the two states. The election of Salvador Allende
Chilean presidential election, 1970
A presidential election was held in Chile on 4 September 1970. A narrow plurality was secured by Salvador Allende, the candidate of the Popular Unity coalition of leftist parties...
was welcomed by the Soviets, although relations were kept at a low-level. When the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cut-off financing to Chile over the latters nationalisation of its copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
industry, Allende was forced to seek alternative relationships for finance and trade, which culminated in a high-level Chilean delegation visiting the Soviet Union in May 1971, at which it was agreed that a Soviet-Chilean Trade Commission would be established. Allende went on a state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
to the Soviet Union in December 1972 with the aim of securing aid and financing from Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
, but his visit was not a success. Allende was overthrown in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973, and relations with the Soviets were again cut on 22 September 1973, and it was not until 11 March 1990 that they were restored.
President
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
Ricardo Lagos
Ricardo Lagos
Ricardo Froilán Lagos Escobar is a lawyer, economist and social democrat politician, who served as president of Chile from 2000 to 2006. He won the 1999-2000 presidential election by a narrow margin in a runoff over Independent Democrat Union candidate Joaquín Lavín...
paid a state visit to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in October 2002, and President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
paid a state visit to Chile in November 2004, in conjunction with the APEC summit being held in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, marking the first visit by a Russian head-of-state to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Social Democrat politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She was the first woman president of her country...
paid an official visit to Russia from 24 April 2009 at the invitation of Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
.
Trade relations
In 2001 bilateral trade between the two nations totalled US$50 million, increasing to $300 million in 2007, and $380 million in 2008.Chile is also looking forward to establishing new export outlets in Russia for its growing blueberry output . It has exhibited to the last IFE show in Moscow for the first time. In 2007-2008, Russia leapfrogged Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to become Chile’s third largest fruit export market in Europe, with overall exports to the country (mainly apples and table grapes) growing by 59 percent, from 64,554 tonnes to 102,321 tonnes.