The B-Side of Obama's Visit

A president’s visit is always a grand event, especially if it is the leader of a great nation such as the United States and given the particular relevance of President Barack Obama’s personality. On this, there is no point of discussion. What worries me, however, is the manner in which the government of Chile encounters this visit.

I saw with some embarrassment on T.V. how the chancellor reported that President Obama comes to our country with his wife and daughters, but also … with his mother-in-law and the godmother of his daughters to Chile to speak to the whole region. I also listened to the declarations of Ambassador Wolff saying, “The choice of Chile is no coincidence.”* My concern is simple: This visit runs the risk of being transformed, principally, into a media event that ends up damaging our regional integration. That which is good for the United States is not necessarily the best for Chile.

Chile, unfortunately, for many years has been seen as playing the role of best student of the class. This, which began during the dictatorship with the famous “Farewell to Latin America” by Joaquín Lavín, was regrettably not rectified by later developments. It has often been said that “We are a good house in a bad neighborhood,” and with much condescension, the pretentious and absurd idea has been put forth that Chile constitutes a model of political transition and economic development, practically of universal validity. The Chilean transition constitutes a very special experience with its high and low points. This cannot be understood without the collapse of democracy and 17 years of dictatorship. That is to say, that in order to reproduce our experience, one would have to first pass through a large tragedy — which no one can want. It is for this reason that we are an experience and not a model. When we accept what we are, we affirm ourselves in the role of a good student but a bad companion, obedient to the professor and contemptuous with the rest of the class.

President Obama’s agenda of activities was intense, but it was less than 24 hours in the country. On the other hand, Chile will continue to be a permanent part of the region. It is a fact that among the most important problems that we face is the unresolved conflict with Bolivia, the contemplation of Peru’s questioning of our maritime borders and the unresolved matter with Argentina about demarcation in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

It would, frankly, be regrettable that such a positive thing as President Obama’s visit could be transformed, involuntarily, into a kind of “bear hug.” Chile requires a consistent diplomacy that puts aside all pride and all regionalism. These two components are a bad mixture.

I am among those who were excited with Obama’s triumph and who observed, with worry, the difficulties that he has had in fulfilling his promises, as much in the U.S. as in Latin America, especially regarding human rights and full respect for the democratic institution (We should remember Honduras), expressed in the Trinidad and Tobago Summit, which he attended at the beginning of his term. In that occasion he affirmed with force that “he wants to listen.”* Hopefully, that is what he has done.

*Editor’s Note: These quotes, though accurately translated, could not be verified.