Chile has withdrawn from hosting two major international summits, namely the United Nations (UN) COP25 climate summit and the APEC forum, due to ongoing anti-government protests.
Chile President Sebastián Piñera said the decision to back out from hosting the COP25 climate summit and the APEC forum had caused him "pain" but his government needed "to prioritise re-establishing public order" amidst the ongoing protests.
The protests were initially triggered by a ow-suspended increase in the price of metro fares in Santiago. However, protesters have expressed their discontent into other issues, from inequality to the high cost of healthcare.
Since the mass protests began, at least 20 people have been killed. Most of the protests were peaceful but there have been incidents of arson and looting, as well as violent clashes between the security forces and protesters.
Chile was scheduled to host this year's Conference of the Parties (COP) from December 2 to 13 while the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade forum was to be held in Santiago from November 15 to 17.
The COP25 summit will be focusing its dicussions on the implementation of the Paris Accord, a landmark international climate agreement, first signed at COP21 in December 2015. Meanwhile, the APEC trade forum is expected to help ease tensions from the trade war between the US and China.
According to US officials, President President Donald Trump had been planning to discuss a possible trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC forum and end the ongoing trade war that has lasted for almost 18 months now.
This is the first time that a country as withdrawn from hosting the COP at such a short notice. The UN is currently looking for alternative venues for the event.
UN climate change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa said: "Earlier today, I was informed of the decision by the government of Chile not to host COP25 in view of the difficult situation that the country is undergoing. We are currently exploring alternative hosting options."
