By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-09-03 16:21:26 | Updated at 2026-09-03 17:11:08
1 hour ago
Argentina · POLITICS
Key Facts
- —What happened Milei flew to Santiago on September 3, 2026, for the Madrid Forum.
- —How big The forum gathered over 40 speakers from 25 countries.
- —The catch The bilateral with Kast was their fourth meeting in under a year.
- —Who it hits The event strengthens ties among conservative leaders in the Americas.
- —What comes next Milei returned to Buenos Aires the same day after the meeting.
Argentine President Javier Milei travels to Santiago for a right-wing forum and talks with Chilean President José Antonio Kast.
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Argentine President Javier Milei made a brief Chile visit on September 3, 2026. He spoke at the Madrid Forum and met President José Antonio Kast in Santiago.
A Quick Trip South
Javier Milei left Buenos Aires at 07:00 on Thursday, September 3, 2026, for a short trip to Chile. His plane landed in Santiago, where he attended the Madrid Forum and held a bilateral meeting with President José Antonio Kast.
The Argentine president spoke at the forum at 09:30 at the Centro de Eventos San Carlos de Apoquindo. He then went to La Moneda, the presidential palace, for meetings.
The Madrid Forum in Santiago
The Madrid Forum is a right-wing political initiative linked to Fundación Disenso, a think tank tied to Spain’s Vox party. This was its fifth regional meeting, held in Santiago on September 3 and 4, 2026.
The event gathered over 40 speakers from 25 countries. Its motto was ‘A new era for Ibero-America’.
Kast gave the opening speech, then Milei spoke.
Who Attended and Organized
Fundación Disenso organized the forum, which is part of a network of conservative and far-right politicians from Europe and the Americas. José Antonio Kast, Chile’s president, is an original signatory of the Madrid Charter, a document promoting conservative values.
The forum also included other regional leaders and figures from the right-wing bloc. The event aimed to strengthen cooperation among like-minded governments.
The Bilateral Meeting with Kast
After the forum Milei met Sarah Rogers, a United States State Department official, at La Moneda. Rogers is the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
Around midday he held a bilateral meeting with President Kast. Chilean outlets gave the time as 11:30, while one Argentine outlet gave it as noon.
This was their fourth face-to-face meeting in under a year, according to Argentine outlets El Cronista and Canal 26. The talks focused on regional issues and bilateral relations, though no specific agreements were announced.
Background of the Visit
The trip came during tension over the Magellan Strait and separate questions about Milei aide Fernando Cerimedo, Argentine and Chilean media reported. These issues sat in the background of the visit, not its main focus.
Milei’s forum participation aligns Argentina with right-wing and libertarian networks. He had previously met with Kast and with Vox leaders.
Reactions and Criticism
The forum has drawn criticism from left-wing groups. The World Socialist Web Site called it an international organization of counterrevolution serving the region’s most reactionary interests.
Chile’s government, not Kast himself, publicly defended his participation. Social Development Minister Maria Jesus Wulf said Kast had helped found the forum and had every right to keep attending.
Logistics and Schedule
Milei’s schedule was tight: he arrived in Santiago in the morning, spoke at the forum, and then had meetings at La Moneda. His return flight left Santiago at 13:30, arriving in Argentina at 15:30.
The quick turnaround shows the importance he places on regional alliances. The visit lasted only a few hours.
The Madrid Charter and Fundación Disenso
The Madrid Charter is a document that outlines conservative principles, signed by right-wing politicians across the Spanish-speaking world. Fundación Disenso, linked to Vox, promotes these ideas through forums and events.
Kast was an original signatory of the charter, making him a key figure in this network. The forum in Santiago is part of a series of regional meetings to expand this influence.
What the Meeting Means
The meeting between Milei and Kast signals a strengthening of the right-wing axis in South America. Both leaders share similar views on economics and migration.
Observers note that such meetings could lead to closer cooperation on security and trade. However, no concrete outcomes were announced.
Regional Context
The forum comes at a time when right-wing leaders are gaining ground in several Latin American countries. Milei‘s visit to Chile is part of this broader trend.
The event also serves as a platform for these leaders to coordinate strategies. The presence of U.S. official Sarah Rogers indicates international interest.
No Major Announcements
Despite the high-profile meeting, no major agreements were signed or announced. The focus was on dialogue and building relationships.
Milei’s quick return to Argentina suggests the visit was more symbolic than substantive. The two presidents discussed shared agendas on foreign relations, migration control, and regional security, according to reports.
Looking Ahead
The meeting sets the stage for future cooperation between Argentina and Chile under conservative leadership. Both countries face similar challenges, including economic instability and migration pressures.
The Madrid Forum’s next regional meeting is expected to continue this dialogue. For now, the visit marks another step in Milei’s efforts to build alliances abroad.
Event Scale and Reach
The Madrid Forum’s fifth regional meeting in Santiago on 3 and 4 September 2026 brought together over 40 speakers from 25 countries. Chile’s Emol newspaper reported this on 28 August 2026.
This made it one of the largest conservative and far-right leader gatherings in Latin America that year. Its slogan was ‘A new era for Ibero-America.’
Fundación Disenso, a think tank linked to Spain’s Vox party, organized the event. It took place at Santiago’s Centro de Eventos San Carlos de Apoquindo.
Pre-Existing Tensions
The visit occurred during separate tension over the Cerimedo affair and the Magellan Strait. Argentine and Chilean outlets covered both stories through late August 2026.
On 29 August 2026, The Clinic reported the bilateral meeting would be ‘marked by the recent incident around the Strait of Magellan.’ This referred to diplomatic friction between Argentina and Chile.
These issues were not part of the public agenda for the forum but framed the context of the leaders’ discussions.
Meeting Logistics and Schedule
Milei’s flight left Buenos Aires at 07:00 on 3 September 2026, per Infobae. It was scheduled to return at 13:30, arriving in Argentina at 15:30.
He spoke at the forum at 09:30, then went to La Moneda to meet the State Department official.
The bilateral meeting with Kast followed around midday. No outlet gave an exact time for the Rogers meeting itself.
Previous Encounters and Future Steps
El Cronista reported that the Santiago bilateral would be their fourth face-to-face meeting since Kast’s runoff win in December 2025. It listed a Buenos Aires meeting, Kast’s March inauguration and an April visit as the earlier three.
This indicated an ongoing relationship between the two leaders, who had met previously in other contexts.
No major announcements or agreements were reported from the meeting. The visit ended with Milei’s return to Argentina that same day, per Infobae’s schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Madrid Forum?
The Madrid Forum is a right-wing political meeting organized by Fundación Disenso, a think tank linked to Spain’s Vox party. It brings together conservative leaders from Europe and the Americas.
Why did Milei visit Chile?
Milei visited Chile to speak at the Madrid Forum and hold a bilateral meeting with President José Antonio Kast. The trip aimed to strengthen ties between the two conservative governments.
What is the Madrid Charter?
The Madrid Charter is a document promoting conservative values, signed by right-wing politicians. José Antonio Kast was an original signatory.
Did Milei and Kast sign any agreements?
No specific agreements were announced during the meeting. The talks focused on regional issues and bilateral relations.
Sources: Infobae; Emol; La Tercera; El Mostrador; The Clinic; Cadena 3; Política Viral; Ex-Ante; WSWS.
