Overview
- Works began near the Chacalluta complex in Arica with Army heavy machinery excavating trenches about 3 meters deep and wide, with walls up to 5 meters planned in select sectors.
- President José Antonio Kast oversaw the kickoff on site with his security team as Chile boosted the local deployment to roughly 600 troops.
- Authorities say the first stage focuses between border milestones 1 and 15 while preserving official crossings, with a longer‑term projection approaching 500 kilometers across the northern frontier.
- The plan integrates drones, thermal cameras and observation towers, and the government is preparing legal proposals to criminalize crossings through unauthorized points.
- Peru’s leadership states it respects Chile’s sovereignty but will review potential impacts on its security, while experts warn of possible bottlenecks at legal crossings and question cost and effectiveness.