Ultraconservative José Antonio Kast takes office as president in Chile after a landslide win promising tough action on crime and immigration. He leads the Republican Party and marks Chile’s sharpest shift to the right since dictatorship ended in 1990. Analysts say he takes power as U.S.-China rivalry in Latin America grows, with China as Chile’s top trading partner. Kast has signaled warmth toward U.S. President Donald Trump and ended the transition with President Gabriel Boric after a dispute over a China-linked submarine cable. He promises harsher security measures and tighter borders.
