Right-wing rise in Latin America put Palestinian support at risk

Fears are mounting across Latin America as far-right forces consolidate power in several countries, deepening the continent’s divide between two sharply opposed political camps. The left continues to pursue balanced international relations with sustaining its support for Palestine, while the right aligns itself with US dominance in the region and moves to strengthen political and strategic ties with Israel.

These contradictions do not affect internal balances alone; it also extends to foreign policy, raising fundamental questions about the future of issues that have historically been part of the region’s political identity, foremost among them the Palestinian cause.

Amid a crisis-laden regional environment, where security, organized crime, and migration dominate the agenda, Latin American countries find themselves caught between stabilising their economic conditions and upholding their solidarity-based positions and foreign causes. This context provides right-wing forces with an opportunity to reorder national priorities, even if doing so comes at the expense of long-standing solidarity commitments.

According to the Brazilian writer and political analyst, Sayid Marcos Tenorio, that “what the region is witnessing cannot be read as a fleeting electoral correction, but rather as the outcome of interacting structural factors, most notably economic deterioration, rising insecurity, and the erosion of the legitimacy of left-wing governments”.

Tenorio explained that the rise of the right is tied to a broader attempt to reimpose a neoliberal economic model packaged in “law and order” rhetoric and grounded in close alliances with financial capital and commercial media. He noted that this shift has direct implications for foreign policy, weakening independent positions and redefining international partnerships along narrow security and economic lines.

After years of socialism in South America, there’s now a right-wing wave.@joseantoniokast just won the Chilean election, turning Chile blue.

Next year, the right could win the elections in Colombia & Brazil, while socialism might fall in Venezuela due to other circumstances pic.twitter.com/0CRX1CTK6P

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 15, 2025

In Chile, the recent presidential election has come to embody the wider rightward shift underway across Latin America. The victory of José Antonio Kast is being read as more than a routine change in leadership. For many Chileans, particularly within the country’s large Palestinian community, the result has raised concerns about the future direction of Chile’s foreign policy and its historical commitment to international solidarity.

Kast’s rise follows a period in which outgoing President Gabriel Boric placed the Palestinian cause at the center of Chile’s ethical and diplomatic positioning, translating solidarity into clear stances in international forums. With a far-right leader now set to take office and widely viewed as closely aligned with Israel, uncertainty has grown over whether this approach will be sustained or gradually reversed.

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Tenorio said that the country’s historical solidarity with Palestine is now “under intense political dispute after Boric era where it represented the high point of Chile’s commitment to a foreign policy grounded in international law”.

“The president-elect is considered one of the leading figures of Chile’s conservative right and is known for his pro-Israel positions and his public criticism of Boric’s foreign policy, which he described during his campaign as ideological and harmful to the country’s interests “, Tenorio told MEMO.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump has invited Argentina’s right-wing President JAVIER MILEI as a founding member of the Gaza Board of Peace

ABSOLUTELY EPIC! Milei is a great ally, this is well-deserved! 🇺🇸🇦🇷

MILEI: “VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO!” pic.twitter.com/KSyy29XRKa

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 17, 2026

This shift is not limited to Chile alone; it also extends to other countries across the continent, including Ecuador and Bolivia, and earlier, Argentina. Since taking office, Argentine President Javier Milei has provided explicit political support for Israel, portraying it as a strategic ally as part of a broader realignment of Argentina’s foreign policy. Milei has translated this stance into concrete actions through clear diplomatic alignment, ideologically driven rhetoric, and public positions that have offered Israel political cover in international forums.

Despite Milei’s decision to back away from relocating Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem, Israel’s foreign ministry stressed that Argentina is still considered “one of Israel’s closest friends,” affirming the continuation of communication through diplomatic channels. 

Alongside this broader landscape, Venezuela stands out as one of the most sensitive arenas in the regional equation. In recent years, it has emerged as one of the strongest regional voices in support of the Palestinian cause and in opposition to Israel. President Nicolás Maduro went beyond rhetorical positions, translating his stance into concrete decisions that gave Venezuela particular weight within the Latin American scene. Any radical political change in Caracas, especially amid growing US pressure, would represent a direct loss for Palestine by sidelining a voice that has been consistently outspoken in condemning Israeli policies.

A transfer of power to opposition forces known for their closeness to Washington would likely trigger a reversal of Venezuela’s official position. Such a shift could place the country within a regional axis more closely aligned with US and Israeli policies, giving this transformation implications that extend well beyond Venezuela’s domestic politics.

Donald Trump says that he “loves Venezuela” and referred to María Corina Machado as “a very nice woman,” adding that “we are talking with her and may be able to involve her in some way in the Venezuela process. I would love to do that.” pic.twitter.com/9Z3KLNMlWw

— Cartel Watch (@CartelWatchNet) January 21, 2026

Tenorio warned that one of the most dangerous consequences of this trajectory is the transformation of support for Palestine from a state policy grounded in international law into a partisan position that shifts with changes in the balance of power. He argued that this shift makes the Palestinian cause hostage to domestic polarization and electoral cycles, rather than a stable, institutional commitment.

At the same time, he noted that this official retreat does not mean the disappearance of solidarity altogether. Social movements, trade unions, universities, and Palestinian communities, he said, continue to represent a source of pressure—albeit one with limited impact unless it is translated into consistent and durable state policies.

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.