Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday morning congratulated José Antonio Kast Rist on his landslide victory in the Chilean general election for the country’s presidency the previous day.
“This victory expresses the desire of the Chilean people for change,” Israel’s top diplomat tweeted.
“I wish the president-elect great success. I hope and believe that this change will also be reflected also in strengthening relations between our countries and in advancing cooperation between our people,” Sa’ar added.
Congratulations to the president-elect of Chile, @joseantoniokast, on his impressive victory in the presidential elections.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 15, 2025
This victory expresses the desire of the Chilean people for change.
I wish the president-elect great success.
I hope and believe that this change will…
Republican Party candidate Kast defeated the ruling party’s candidate Jeannette Jara, of the Communist Party, on his third bid for head of state.
Kast earned 58% of the vote, in a sharp turn rightward after Gabriel Boric’s electoral win in 2021.
In the first round of election held in November, Jara came in first, but far behind the 50% threshold required by law to become president.
The second round was held on Sunday between the two leading candidates, with the majority of voters backing 59-year-old Kast, potentially moving the South American nation away from recent socialist policies.
“This government caused chaos, this government caused disorder, this government caused insecurity,” Reuters quoted Kast as saying at the end of the recent campaign. “We’re going to do the opposite. We’re going to create order, security and trust.”
Kast’s win may also spell a positive shift toward Israel and the local Jewish community.
The American Jewish Committee expressed in May its “profound concern” over Boric’s and his administration’s “series of harmful moves” toward Jews in the country and Israel.
The Chilean government has revealed “clear anti-Israel bias and blatant disregard for the safety of Chile’s Jewish population,” the AJC said, noting that Santiago recalled three military attachés in Israel and is reportedly considering breaking all ties with the Jewish state soon.
“Since coming into office, Boric has refused to meet with the local Jewish community or address its growing sense of vulnerability stemming from virulent anti-Israel and antisemitic voices in the political, academic and media spheres,” the AJC stated at the time.
