Chile Border Security
Securing Chile’s northern border is a top priority for Chilean President Kast who assumed office in March 2026. Between 2019 and 2024, tens of thousands of undocumented migrants entered annually through unauthorized points in the remote Atacama Desert, with official Chilean records noting over 56,000 undocumented arrivals in 2021 alone.
The government’s “Border Shield Plan” (Plan Escudo Fronterizo) confronts this security crisis by systematically sealing the 1,000-kilometer northern border with Peru and Bolivia through physical barriers and advanced surveillance technology.
The Chilean government has invested approximately $18.5 million in the project and increased military and police presence by 89% as of June 5th. The Kast Administration reports that its initial efforts have driven a 95% decrease in clandestine entries during the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
The Border Shield Plan presents significant export opportunities for U.S. companies specializing in advanced surveillance, integrated command systems, and port security technologies. As the Chilean government actively seeks to build a coordinated, multi-layered security network, high-demand solutions include thermal radars, infrared cameras, integrated motion sensors, facial recognition software, and autonomous drones.
To manage this vast physical and digital barrier network, Chile requires advanced integrated command software capable of centralizing, processing, and interpreting real-time field data. Additionally, opportunities exist to deploy these surveillance systems at Chile’s northern seaports. These ports serve as major hubs for illicit activity, presenting unique monitoring challenges that are further complicated by Bolivia’s legal transit access rights.
While U.S. technologies are highly regarded for their reliability and security, cost remains a key factor, and exporters must remain competitive against suppliers from Europe, Canada, China, and Israel.
Chile is one of Latin America’s most digitally advanced countries, but it also faces a growing number of cyber threats, with organizations reporting an average of 1,700 attacks per week in 2026. This vulnerability, combined with the government’s push to digitize its border infrastructure, creates a critical need for cybersecurity solutions. This presents an opportunity for U.S. digital security firms to provide services to the Chilean government, particularly for securing new surveillance and data management systems.
U.S. firms seeking to bid on upcoming tenders must navigate Chile’s public procurement pathways. Most civil security and police acquisitions are managed through Mercado Público, the government’s centralized online procurement portal. To successfully compete on this platform, foreign companies must register and submit all bidding documents in Spanish. U.S. companies are highly encouraged to partner with a local distributor registered in the national supplier database, ChileProveedores, or to work with the Commercial Service to identify a local partner. Chilean Armed Forces acquisitions have different procurement procedures, which are outlined in the U.S. Commercial Service’s Chile Armed Forces Suppliers Registration.
With President Kast’s term just beginning and high public demand for security solutions, U.S. safety and security companies have a unique window to establish long-term, strategic partnerships with the Chilean government.
To learn more about specific tenders and how to navigate the procurement process, please contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Chile.