Chile condemns Argentina's allegations of Hezbollah presence, calls for evidence
Chilean President Gabriel Boric has announced his intention to send a formal protest to the Argentine government following statements made by Argentine Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich regarding the presence of Hezbollah in Chile.
In an interview with a local radio station, President Boric condemned Bullrich's assertions, demanding concrete evidence to support her claims. He emphasized the need for collaboration between nations but urged against making unsubstantiated statements that could strain diplomatic relations.
President Boric reiterated Chile's stance against terrorism, stating unequivocally that Chile neither harbors nor supports any terrorist groups within its borders or beyond.
Chile's Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, also refuted Bullrich's claims, affirming that Chile's security forces remain vigilant and have detected no threats of Hezbollah activity in the country.
Bullrich had previously asserted in an interview that Hezbollah had been detected in the city of Iquique, Chile, as well as in the triple border area between Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. She referenced the arrest of two individuals in São Paulo last year as evidence of Hezbollah's presence in the region.
The situation has raised concerns about regional security, with Bullrich highlighting Venezuela's alliance with Iran as another potential source of instability in the continent.
President Boric's call for evidence underscores the importance of maintaining diplomatic protocols and ensuring accurate information sharing between neighboring nations. (ILKHA)