Chile’s naval-spending and deterrence debate

Chile’s ironclad order grew out of a political argument over preparedness, debt, and deterrence. Errázuriz asked Congress to authorize two armored ships because he believed regional tensions could turn into war. The lone dissent came from former president José Joaquín Pérez, who argued that earlier wars had left the treasury too strained for another major military expense. Their disagreement raises the practical question of whether avoiding investment in defensive capability makes conflict less likely.