Geopolitical Economy Report US influence in Latin America grows: Nazi-tied, pro-Israel, anti-China candidate wins Chile election
Dec 15, 2025
The podcast dives into the election of Chile's far-right president, José Antonio Kast, whose father had Nazi ties. It examines U.S. interventions in Latin America, particularly the resurgence of pro-U.S. regimes promoting neoliberal policies. Kast's admiration for Donald Trump and former dictator Pinochet raises alarm over regional stability. The discussion also highlights Chile's strategic resources, like lithium and copper, and the implications of rising far-right influence across Latin America.
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US Reasserts Regional Hegemony
- The Trump administration made Latin America a top geopolitical priority to deny China and others regional access.
- The 2025 National Security Strategy frames this as reviving the Monroe Doctrine and creating a Western Hemisphere supply chain.
Hardline Personnel Signal Strategy
- Marco Rubio was positioned as a central figure overseeing Latin America policy and a new aggressive stance toward Venezuela.
- The strategy explicitly seeks to expel China and deny non-hemispheric competitors access to the region.
Kast's Victory And Its Context
- José Antonio Kast won Chile's 2025 presidential election as a far-right figure who praises Pinochet and Trump.
- Norton links Kast's rise to broader U.S. successes in shifting Latin America rightward.