'Key geopolitical player': Chile Prez Gabriel Boric Font hails PM Modi as he can 'talk to every leader in world'

NEW DELHI:

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font

hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "key player in geopolitics" because he can talk to every leader of the world, including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking at

Rashtrapati Bhavan

during his state visit to India, President Boric lauded PM Modi's diplomatic influence, saying, "President Modi, you have the status nowadays that you can talk to every leader of the world. You're supporting Trump, Zelenskyy, the European Union, and the Latin American leaders in Greece or Iran. That is something that no other leader can say now. So you're a key player in the geopolitical atmosphere nowadays."

The Chilean leader also expressed gratitude for the warm reception in India, marking his first state visit to the country. "I am here for the first time for a State visit... I want to thank you for the warm welcome that we have received here...for the past 16 years, no one from Chile has come here, and in that 16 years, India has changed a lot."

President Boric was honoured at a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. He highlighted Chile's commitment to strengthening ties with India, saying, "Chile is a country that is connected to the world. We do not depend on one special country, but we have relationships with China, with the United States, with the European Union, with the countries from our region, Latin America, with the countries from Asia Pacific, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and now we want to work more deep in our relationships with India and we have given some important steps today."
"As you said in the meeting that we had with Prime Minister Modi in his third mandate, we have subscribed some agreements and MoUs in such important issues as cultural exchange, Antarctic investigation, Chile is the door for the world to Antarctic continent," he added.

President Boric's visit, scheduled from April 1-5, 2025, marks the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Chile, reinforcing their commitment to mutual growth and cooperation.