NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Chile, José Antonio Kast, on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The leaders discussed expanding the Canada-Chile partnership across key sectors, including defence and aerospace industries, critical minerals, and Antarctic research. They welcomed the two countries’ shared commitment to protecting biodiversity, including in the world’s oceans. They also discussed joint efforts to advance the Canada-Chile Strategic Partnership Framework.
The Prime Minister and the President emphasised the growing economic ties between Canada and Chile. Canada is Chile’s largest foreign investor, with nearly $40 billion in investments last year, including in critical minerals, financial services, infrastructure, and energy. The leaders underscored the strategic importance of deepening those ties, particularly in critical minerals.
Prime Minister Carney also welcomed growing Canada-Chile cooperation in Antarctica and expressed Canada’s interest in participating in a joint Antarctic expedition in 2027.
The leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
Noah Note: I am very happy to see this. Chile has a longstanding history of collaboration with Canada in the naval domain, including through the P3/CP140 platform. IMP had previously done the upgrade work on the Chilean P3 fleet as part of the Albatros IV program. We've also discussed several times over the last few months on the ongoing discussions around Chile acquiring surplus Aurora to bolster it's own fleet. I gotta follow up on that.
Canada has had interest in expanding collaboration with South America in areas of trade, defence and critical minerals for a while now, something that the Carney government has set harder in motion since last year. That includes ongoing Free Trade discussions with the Mercosur trade bloc.
Chile has been one of Canada’s major partners in the region. That includes delivery a few years ago of surplus LAV III (technically nzlav but who’s asking), the use of CMS330 by the Chilean Navy, and Vard Marines involvement as the design firm behind both the Almirante Viel Icebreaker and the Chilean Escotillón IV program.
Basically, we have a far more extensive history and connection to each other than many acknowledge or even know about. I welcome the attempt to deepen that collaboration, and to open the door to more open engagement. South America is an untapped market, one rife for cooperation and export.
I also make note on the Federal government teasing another Antarctic Expedition next year. The first was really fun to follow, and a wonderful shoe of thr flag to many allies we rarely get to see. I welcome another, perhaps this time with the inclusion of another Canadian-designed Icebreaker that isn't ours!
Hey Noah, if they invited you along as the embedded press on a future antarctic expedition, would you go?