Name of country: the Republic of Chile, República de Chile

Establishment of diplomatic relations:

• 4 February 1952 (Federal Republic of Germany)
• 16 March 1971 (German Democratic Republic)

System of government: republic and presidential democracy with a bicameral national congress, consisting of a 50-seat senate and a 155-seat chamber of deputies

German-Chilean relations are based on close ties in economy, science and culture, as well as a shared commitment to democracy, human rights and multilateralism.

The EU is Chile’s third most important trading partner. Germany is Chile's most important trading partner within the EU. Germany’s principal imports from Chile are copper and agricultural products, while Germany’s main exports to Chile are machinery, vehicles and other industrial products. A modernised interim trade agreement between the EU and Chile has been in force since 2025.

There is great interest in the German language and culture. German immigration from 1848 as well as the contribution by German settlers in the spheres of science, education and the economy have had an impact that is evident to this very day, especially in the south of the country. Bilateral cultural relations focus on language tuition, the programme work of the Goethe-Institut as well as support for the 24 schools participating in the Federal Foreign Office’s Schools: Partners for the Future initiative (PASCH), including five German schools abroad.

Numerous bilateral university and research partnerships underscore Germany’s excellent reputation in the fields of science and research. An updated framework agreement on cooperation in science and technology has been in force since 2013. Priority areas are renewable energies, environmental protection, astronomy, Antarctic research and healthcare. The Heidelberg Centre for Latin America and the Fraunhofer Chile Centre for Solar Energy are beacon projects in Santiago.

Chile is regarded as a regional pioneer in renewable energies and a key partner in the development of green hydrogen. The two countries have had a strategic raw materials partnership since 2013, an energy partnership since 2019 and a lithium partnership since 2024. In 2010, Chile became the first South American country to join the OECD.

Germany and Chile are also working closely together within the framework of the Chilean-German Joint Commission to address the historical memory of Colonia Dignidad and the integration of victims into society. The results of the last session are available in German here.