The Cuban ambassador to Chile, Óscar Cornelio Oliva, has developed an intense public agenda in less than ten months, featuring over 60 activities and a notable rapprochement with the Chilean Communist Party (PC) that has drawn interest in diplomatic circles in the country.
According to a report by the Chilean media El Líbero, based on 70 publications from the Cuban diplomatic representation itself, since his arrival in November 2025, Cornelio has visited at least 13 municipalities and held meetings with mayors, parliamentarians, political leaders, and university representatives.
However, it is his repeated contacts with communist leaders that have drawn the most attention.
One of the most significant episodes occurred on January 6, during an event commemorating the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution at the University of Chile. In front of the president of the Communist Party, Lautaro Carmona, Cornelio stated: "I fully endorse the words of my comrade Lautaro: we are the same cause. His concepts, definitions, and proposals are also ours."
The event ultimately generated controversy. The General Comptroller of the Republic ordered the University of Chile to regularize its procedures after the activity was authorized as artistic-cultural despite having, according to the agency, a "clear political connotation."
Days later, Carmona and leader Juan Andrés Lagos traveled to Havana, where they held meetings with Miguel Díaz-Canel, Josefina Vidal, and Esteban Lazo. Upon their return, Carmona called for a "leap in both quality and quantity in solidarity" with Cuba.
A relationship that goes beyond Santiago
Contacts continued in other regions. In February, Communist Senator Daniel Núñez accompanied the Cuban diplomat during a tour of Coquimbo, where the possibility of exporting artisanal mackerel to Cuba was explored.
In March, Cornelio attended the National Congress to meet with the Chilean-Cuban Interparliamentary Group, chaired by the communist deputy Boris Barrera.
The activity intensified in August, coinciding with the centenary of the birth of dictator Fidel Castro. Cornelio shared the stage with former mayor and presidential candidate Daniel Jadue during the presentation of the book «…and then Fidel arrived» and announced that over 150 Chileans would travel to Cuba to participate in the celebrations.
On August 13, a communist delegation led by Lagos visited the Cuban embassy to express their "honor commitment to the Cuban revolution."
An agenda under scrutiny
The intense activity is occurring amidst a significant change in the political relationship between Santiago and Havana.
In January, then-President Gabriel Boric referred to Cuba as a "dictatorship," causing a significant disagreement with the Communist Party. Since March, the government of José Antonio Kast has distanced itself further from Havana, and in August withdrew Chile from the Non-Aligned Movement, after 55 years of participation.
The ambassador's deployment has also raised concerns in some diplomatic circles. A former Chilean ambassador consulted by El Líbero stated that "it is erroneous to think that diplomacy and espionage are separate in Cuba."
Background from 2019 and 2022 had already identified alleged Cuban intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover in Santiago, although these accusations come from the press and former agents, without public judicial confirmations.
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