The new ambassador of Chile to Spain, Juan Antonio Coloma Correa, took up his position at the head of the diplomatic mission of the Andean country last Friday when he arrived in Madrid. On the same day, he presented his Copies of Style to the Introducer of Ambassadors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to diplomatic sources reported to DiplomacyNews.
The new Chilean ambassador can now perform the functions of his position, except for representation at official events, although he has not yet presented Credentials to King Felipe VI. A ceremony that will likely take place next month in July.
Coloma visited the Palacio de La Moneda last week, days before embarking on his trip to Spain, to discuss with President José Antonio Kast the main challenges and opportunities of Chilean foreign policy and the progress in bilateral cooperation, trade, investments, and strengthening ties with Spain, as indicated on the website of the Government of Chile.
The meeting, to which five other ambassadors —those assigned to Brazil, China, Mexico, Sweden, and Belgium— recently confirmed in their positions were also summoned, “also allowed to exchange views on the international scenario and analyze initiatives aimed at promoting Chile’s presence in strategic markets, boost new opportunities for economic development, and strengthen the relationship with two of the country’s main partners in Europe and Latin America.”
“President Kast highlighted the role that diplomatic missions play in promoting national interests and reiterated the importance of continuing to deepen political, economic, cultural, and commercial relations with both nations,” adds the Presidency of the Chilean Government.
Grandson of the conservative politician Juan Antonio Coloma Mellado, Juan Antonio Coloma Correa is a lawyer and has been until now a senator for the right-wing Independent Democratic Union (UDI), to which one of his sons, Juan Antonio Coloma Álamos, also belongs.
The future ambassador in Spain, who presided over the Chilean Senate until March 2024, “also chaired the Permanent Commission on Foreign Relations and participated in the Chilean-German interparliamentary group,” according to the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a brief overview of Coloma’s profile.
With his arrival in Madrid, Coloma will replace Javier Velasco, appointed by the previous president, Gabriel Boric.