Israel has decided to relocate its military attaché, Colonel Amit Guy, in response to Chile excluding Israeli firms from the 2024 FIDAE airshow. This shift in Israel’s South American diplomacy comes as tensions rise with Chile under President Gabriel Boric. Boric’s rejection of Israeli Ambassador Gil Artzyeli’s credentials in September 2022 marked a turning point in relations between the two countries.
Chile’s condemnation of Israeli military actions in Gaza and exclusion of Israeli companies from FIDAE further strained the relationship, prompting Israel to reassess its military diplomacy in the region. Colonel Guy will now oversee Israel’s defense interests in Chile, Ecuador, and Paraguay from Buenos Aires.
This strategic move underscores Israel’s need for supportive alliances and signals a recalibration regionally. With Argentina showing a pro-Israel stance contradicting past policies, the geopolitical landscape in Latin America might shift. This alignment with U.S. and Western views on Israel could benefit trade and international relations for Argentina and Israel.