Latin American countries Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador signed an agreement called the “Santiago Regional Commitment” aimed at strengthening the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking.
The foreign ministers of Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador gathered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Santiago, the capital of Chile, and agreed to work jointly in combating organized crime and drug trafficking.
Speaking at the meeting, Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna announced that the five Latin American countries had signed the “Santiago Regional Commitment,” stating:
“We will fight crime together. We want to bring security and peace to our citizens. Today, the Santiago Commitment is born. Efforts at the national level are proving insufficient. Therefore, this process must be supported through stronger political cooperation, technical coordination, and information sharing.”
Mackenna also stated that the countries would meet again in 180 days in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, to assess concrete steps taken and evaluate verifiable results.
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast also emphasized the importance of the Santiago Commitment, saying:
“These five countries no longer want to stand by while organized crime kills our youth, takes over our neighborhoods, and buys influence.”
Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno stated that they had demonstrated institutional courage, adding:
“Our societies need states capable of eliminating areas of impunity and responding faster and in a more coordinated manner than criminal organizations.”
Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo also stressed the importance of freedom, saying:
“What crime takes away from us is development. It restricts our freedoms and our ability to provide citizens with a state that inspires confidence. The period we are living through requires decisive action.”