Chilean President Kast to visit Bolivia amid timber dispute

Chilean President José Antonio Kast is scheduled to visit Bolivia on October 16, 2026, in an effort to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two neighbors, who have lacked ambassadors in each other's capitals for decades. The visit aims to focus on security, prosperity, and citizen welfare, with potential discussions regarding commercial links and infrastructure like a dry port.

However, the diplomatic meeting coincides with a growing dispute regarding Bolivian timber shipments. The Bolivian Senate's International Policy Commission has requested that President Rodrigo Paz formally protest to his Chilean counterpart regarding wood cargoes detained in Chile under suspicion of containing cocaine.

Senator Nicanor Cochi expressed concern over the economic impact of these detentions, noting that millions of dollars are paralyzed and workers in the northern Amazon region are being affected. While Chilean authorities reported suspected drug contamination in June, some unofficial reports and Senate investigations suggest the issue may stem from errors in Chilean testing rather than actual narcotics. The Commission urged the Bolivian government to pursue diplomatic and legal actions to protect the national timber sector.