Effort seeks to de-link defense spending from economic fortunes of Codelco

President Michelle Bachelet last week proposed legislation for sweeping changes in the structure and financing of Chile’s Armed Forces, including creation of a post equivalent to that of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and greater civilian control over the nation’s defense budget.

“The new post will be the strategic commander of all Chilean military operations and will depend directly on the President of the Republic, through the Ministry of Defense,” said Bachelet at a ceremony convening the nation’s defense minister, legislators and the heads of the three military branches — the Army, Navy and Air Force. “With the enactment of this bill, Chile will have completed one of the most difficult and ambitious modernizing reforms sponsored by the successive administrations of the ruling Concertación coalition.

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