In one of the largest humanitarian operations mounted by a single country following the double earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, El Salvador has completed the deployment of six aircraft carrying some 300 rescue workers and approximately 150 tons of equipment, machinery and supplies.

The mission, initially announced as three planes, was expanded after Salvadoran personnel on the ground assessed the needs firsthand.

President Nayib Bukele confirmed the departure of the sixth and final plane on the night of June 26, writing on X: “The sixth plane from El Salvador has left for Venezuela. We continue to add efforts to support our Venezuelan brothers and sisters. Strength, Venezuela.”

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What the aid includes

Personnel
The Salvadoran contingent is made up of members from the Fire Department, Civil Protection, the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Health, the National Civil Police, the Red Cross and Comandos de Salvamento — all trained in urban search and rescue operations.

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Heavy machinery
Beyond rescue teams and medical staff, El Salvador included heavy machinery and specialized tools in its shipments to help clear rubble more efficiently.

The equipment has been operational on the ground since early in the mission, assisting in the removal of debris from collapsed buildings across the hardest-hit areas of Caracas and La Guaira.

Supplies for those affected
The cargo also includes medication, food and basic necessities for the thousands of people displaced or left homeless by the earthquakes. According to ContraPunto and Prensa Latina, the shipments cover both rescue operations and immediate humanitarian relief.

Rescue efforts on the ground

Salvadoran teams have participated in several rescues of survivors trapped under the rubble. It is important to note that these rescues are often the result of coordinated teamwork — Salvadoran personnel working alongside local first responders, volunteers and teams from other countries.

In many cases, multiple groups converge at the same site, making it a shared effort rather than the work of a single team.

While exact numbers of survivors rescued specifically by Salvadoran personnel have not been officially consolidated at this stage — four days after the disaster — media reports have documented several rescues where Salvadoran teams played a key role.

During search operations, animals trapped in the rubble have also been found and rescued by different teams working in the affected zones.

Authorities have cautioned that the number of missing is still high and rescue operations remain ongoing around the clock.

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El Salvador’s contribution in context

For perspective, other nations have also responded significantly:

• Mexico sent approximately 261 personnel (240 Army, 11 Air Force, 10 National Guard) with 18 search dogs and initially 7.1 tons of tools and medical supplies, with a second C-130 flight carrying an additional 12 tons announced (Reporte Índigo, citing Sedena).
• The United States deployed the largest logistical operation overall, including urban search and rescue teams from Virginia and Los Angeles, two Navy vessels, C-17 aircraft and Pentagon coordination on the ground, along with over 6 tons of medical supplies reported so far.
• Switzerland dispatched 80 rescuers with 18 tons of equipment.
• Colombia sent 63 rescue specialists and 12 tons of humanitarian aid.
• Spain mobilized approximately 97 personnel from the UME and Madrid fire brigade, along with a field hospital.

Each country has contributed according to its capacity. El Salvador’s effort stands out for its volume relative to the country’s size and for including heavy machinery — a critical resource in the early stages of a seismic disaster.

International coordination

El Salvador’s mission is part of a broader global response coordinated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which has reported at least 17 countries mobilizing rescue teams and medical assistance, with over 25 international teams and close to 1,000 foreign personnel deployed in the most affected areas.

As search efforts continue past the 72-hour mark, Salvadoran teams remain on the ground, working shoulder to shoulder with personnel from other nations in the race to find survivors.

The post El Salvador Sends Rescue Teams, Heavy Machinery and Supplies to Earthquake-Hit Venezuela appeared first on El Salvador EN.

On June 25, El Salvador became a signatory of Pax Silica, the U.S.-led initiative focused on semiconductor and AI supply chains. This post explains what that means in practical terms.

What Pax Silica Is

Pax Silica is a diplomatic initiative launched by the U.S. State Department in December 2025. Its stated goal is to coordinate among allied countries on:

• Semiconductor manufacturing and supply chains
• AI infrastructure and computing capacity
• Critical minerals and rare earth elements
• Data center development and connectivity

It is not a treaty. It is not a trade agreement. It is a non-binding declaration of intent to cooperate. More than 30 countries have signed it, including Japan, South Korea, India, the UK, Australia, and several European and Latin American nations.

Why El Salvador Joined

El Salvador does not manufacture semiconductors. It does not mine rare earth minerals. Its tech sector, while growing, is small by international standards.

The government’s stated rationale is that membership positions the country to attract investment in data centers, tech infrastructure, and talent development. The U.S. has described El Salvador as a reliable partner in the region.

There is no indication that El Salvador was offered specific financial incentives or projects as a condition of joining.

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What Membership Actually Means

What changes immediately: Nothing. No funds are transferred. No projects are guaranteed. No binding obligations are created.

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What changes potentially:

• El Salvador is now included in diplomatic conversations about tech supply chains
• It may have priority access to U.S.-backed investment consortia, including a $250 million fund announced earlier this year for critical minerals and energy
• It can participate in working groups and knowledge-sharing programs
• It may become a more attractive location for companies looking to diversify their supply chain footprint in Latin America

What does not change: El Salvador’s domestic infrastructure, workforce skills, and regulatory environment remain the same. These are the factors that will determine whether any investment materializes.

What to Watch For

If membership leads to concrete outcomes, they will likely appear in these areas:

If none of these materialize within 12-24 months, the membership will have been largely symbolic.

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A Realistic Assessment

Joining Pax Silica is a diplomatic step. It signals alignment and ambition. It does not, by itself, change economic realities.

The value of membership will depend entirely on what El Salvador does next — in education, infrastructure, regulation, and investment promotion. Pax Silica opens a door. Walking through it requires work that has not yet been done.

For now, the most accurate description is: El Salvador is now part of a conversation about the future of tech supply chains worldwide. Whether that translates into tangible benefits remains to be seen.

The post El Salvador Joins Pax Silica: A Factual Look appeared first on El Salvador EN.

President Nayib Bukele today inaugurated a brand-new passenger terminal at El Salvador International Airport “San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez” (IATA: SAL), marking the latest milestone in the country’s $320 million airport modernization portfolio.

The new terminal, built in a record eight months and funded entirely with $50 million from the government’s own resources — with no public debt incurred — is designed to significantly improve passenger flow and position El Salvador as a competitive aviation hub in Central America.

By the Numbers: What’s New

 “This positions us as the airport that can handle the most bags per hour or per day in the entire region” said Federico Anliker, President of CEPA (the Autonomous Executive Port Commission).

Key Features of the New Terminal

Faster Processing

International aviation standards set an average passenger processing time — from aircraft disembarkation to leaving the terminal — at 45 minutes. With the expansion, that time is expected to drop to just 30 minutes. Bukele joked: “Like pizza.”

Family-Friendly Design

The terminal features dedicated “family friendly” zones where families can complete a single, unified check-in process, eliminating the need for individual registrations.

Surfboard-Exclusive Baggage Belt

In a nod to El Salvador’s growing reputation as a world-class surf destination, the new baggage hall includes a dedicated lane for surfboards — a first for the region.

Robot Dog & Orion Scanners

The terminal introduces a canine robot to support the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) with surveillance and hazardous substance detection. Additionally, Orion dual-view scanning systems can complete baggage inspections in just 30 seconds.

Expanded Parking

A new four-level parking structure adds hundreds of spaces to the existing 2,500, improving ground access for travelers.

Context: An Airport Under Rapid Growth

The airport currently handles an average of 6,000 passengers per day, and these numbers continue to climb as El Salvador expands its air connectivity and open-skies policy.

Part of a Larger Vision

The new passenger terminal is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. It forms part of a $320 million airport-wide investment portfolio managed by CEPA, which includes:

• Cargo terminal expansion
• Additional hangar infrastructure (including Aeroman’s new Hangar 7, inaugurated alongside the terminal)
• Future upgrades to taxiways and apron areas

Meanwhile, construction continues on the Pacific International Airport (Aeropuerto del Pacífico) in La Unión, whose first phase is on track for a 2027 opening.

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Why This Matters for Travelers & Investors

For international travelers, the upgrade means shorter lines, faster baggage claim, and a more seamless entry into El Salvador. The 30-minute processing target puts Salvadoran customs efficiency on par with top-tier global airports.

For investors and logistics professionals, the capacity jump — particularly the nearly tripling of baggage throughput — signals that El Salvador is serious about competing as a regional aviation hub, leveraging its strategic location near the Pacific and its modernized infrastructure.

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With this expansion, El Salvador International Airport is not just getting a facelift — it’s positioning itself as the most efficient, family-friendly, and traveler-ready airport in Central America. And it did it in eight months, with no debt.

The post New $50 Million Terminal Inaugurated at El Salvador International Airport — Built in Record 8 Months Without Public Deb appeared first on El Salvador EN.

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar has published a draft law to regulate tokenized assets. The inspiration came from an unusual source: El Salvador.

Here is what happened, what it means, and why it matters.

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The facts

In April 2026, Nigel Feetham, Gibraltar’s Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, traveled to El Salvador as a guest of the National Commission for Digital Assets (CNAD). He met with CNAD President Juan Carlos Reyes and Salvadoran government officials to discuss digital asset regulation.

Gibraltar’s government confirmed the visit in an official press release, stating the purpose was to “exchange views and discuss areas of shared interest, particularly in relation to the development, innovation and regulation of digital asset ecosystems.”

Two weeks later, Gibraltar published the Protected Cell Companies (Amendment) Bill 2026, a law that allows tokenized shares in investment funds.

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What Feetham said

At the Stablecoin Conference 2026 in Mexico City, Feetham acknowledged the influence of El Salvador’s regulatory framework on Gibraltar’s draft law.

“I believe El Salvador is truly at the forefront of the latest developments in digital assets.”

He explained that his team worked with regional specialists to develop Gibraltar’s regulatory framework, drawing on the experience of El Salvador’s Digital Assets Issuance Law (LEAD) — a comprehensive law passed in 2023 that covers tokenization of debt, bonds, and stocks.

However, Feetham was clear that Gibraltar chose a different approach:

“I took the position that I did not want to do that [like El Salvador] at first. I wanted to move forward with tokenization in a structured and measured way.”

Gibraltar’s bill limits tokenization to shares of Experienced Investor Funds — a category for sophisticated investors — structured as protected cell companies. It is a more cautious first step, tokenizing fund shares rather than directly tokenizing underlying assets.

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What this tells us about El Salvador

El Salvador passed the LEAD in 2023 and established the CNAD as its regulatory authority. Since then, it has built real experience enforcing a comprehensive digital asset framework.

Now, a British overseas territory with a long history in international finance has traveled to El Salvador, studied that framework, and publicly acknowledged it as a reference.

A small developing nation built a regulatory model. An established financial center came to learn from it. That does not happen often.

What Gibraltar is doing next

The bill is scheduled for parliamentary debate next month and has support in principle from opposition lawmakers. Feetham expects approval with a broad majority.

Beyond tokenization, Gibraltar is also:

• Drafting regulation for DeFi support and audit services
• Licensing prediction market operators
• Exploring the development of its own stablecoin

Sources

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The post “El Salvador Is at the Forefront”: Gibraltar Drafts Tokenization Bill After Studying Salvadoran Model appeared first on El Salvador EN.

President Nayib Bukele has made his position on carbon credits unmistakably clear. In a recent post on social media, he responded to a video showing an autonomous robot that kills pests with UV light – no chemicals, no pesticides.

But instead of stopping at the technology, Bukele turned the conversation toward a much larger issue: the global carbon credit market and its impact on developing nations like El Salvador.

The core argument

Bukele began by stating directly:

“They want to buy our air through carbon credits. If carbon credits were such a great deal, they would be selling them to us, not the other way around.”

This statement cuts to the heart of his criticism. For Bukele, carbon credits are not a genuine solution for environmental protection. Instead, they represent an unequal exchange where developed countries pay to continue polluting, while nations like El Salvador sell their environmental potential at low prices, perpetuating a cycle of dependency.

The real cost of clean water

To show why carbon credits are insufficient, Bukele put a concrete number on the table:

“Cleaning every river, lake, and water source in El Salvador, and ensuring they remain clean and sparkling, would cost roughly $12 billion. Where is that money supposed to come from without economic development? Carbon credits?”

The question is rhetorical. For Bukele, the answer is obvious: carbon credit revenue could never cover such a massive investment. The only realistic path is economic development that generates enough wealth to fund large-scale environmental restoration.

Development as the solution

Bukele then broadened his argument to a global perspective:

“The key to saving the environment is not looking backward, it’s moving forward.”

He cited personal experience: visiting Italy twenty years ago, where rivers sparkled and everything was clean and green. For him, the lesson was clear – the answer is not underdevelopment, but progress.

He also referenced China:

“When China was poor, the air was so polluted that people could barely see the blue sky. Today, blue skies have returned to their cities. Development does not only create wealth, it also provides the resources needed to restore and protect the environment.”

A critique of certain environmentalism

Bukele did not hold back in criticizing what he sees as misguided environmentalism:

“Some environmentalists want us to preserve every aspect of our biodiversity, including the mosquitoes for example, so that researchers can fly in once every ten years from their universities (which build particle accelerators and billion-dollar laboratories with their pocket money), study our ecosystems, and count how many people died from dengue outbreaks.”

His point: environmental policies that ignore human suffering – such as deaths from dengue – are hypocritical and detached from the realities of developing countries.

The path forward

Bukele concluded with a clear vision for El Salvador:

“The answer is not underdevelopment. The answer is progress.”

“The path forward for our country is the path of Japan and Singapore, not the path of the Congo.”

In other words, El Salvador will not choose stagnation in the name of conservation. It will pursue technological innovation, economic growth, and industrial development – just as Japan and Singapore did – to generate the resources needed to protect its environment.

Conclusion

President Bukele’s message is firm: El Salvador will not sell its air to the highest bidder through carbon credits. Instead, the country will build its own future through development, innovation, and real progress. The robot that kills pests without chemicals is just one example of where El Salvador is heading – forward.

The post Bukele Rejects Carbon Credits – Here’s What He Said appeared first on El Salvador EN.

Madrid (MAD) → San Salvador (SAL) – Non-stop. No layovers. Just you and El Salvador. 

El Salvador is no longer a connection you skip. With direct flights now operating from Madrid, European travelers can reach this small but mighty country in under 13 hours — no stops in Miami, Panama, or anywhere else.

Which Airlines Fly the Route?

• Aircraft: Airbus A330
• Flight time: ~12 hours 50 minutes

Iberojet also joins the route with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona to San Salvador starting September 2026.

A Quick Look: Direct Flights from Madrid to Central America

Only 4 out of 7 Central American countries have a non-stop connection to Spain:

Country	Direct from Madrid?
El Salvador	Now available
Panama	Yes (multiple airlines)
Costa Rica	Yes (Iberia, Iberojet)
Guatemala	Yes (Iberia)
Honduras	No
Nicaragua	No
Belize	No

El Salvador is now one of just four Central American countries with a direct European link — and for many travelers, it’s the most authentic and affordable option of them all.

Why Visit El Salvador?

For European Travelers…	El Salvador Delivers…
World-class surfing	Consistent Pacific waves at El Tunco, Punta Roca, and La Libertad — far fewer crowds than Costa Rica or Portugal.
Volcano trekking	Hike Santa Ana Volcano (emerald crater lake), Izalco, and Cerro Verde National Park.
Pristine beaches	Black sand shores, empty coastlines, and dramatic sunsets.
Investment opportunity	A country friendly to foreign investment. Visit El Salvador and explore it to find investment opportunities.
Improved safety	El Salvador has undergone a major security turnaround, making it increasingly traveler-friendly.

Plan Your Trip

• Visa: Visa-free for EU, UK, US, Canadian, and most other passport holders (up to 90 days).
• Currency: US Dollar — easy for international travelers.
• Language: Spanish, but English is growing in tourist areas.
• Best time to visit: November to April (dry season).

 Travel tip: With direct flights from Madrid to El Salvador — plus existing direct routes to Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala — you can easily combine multiple countries on one trip.

The Bottom Line

El Salvador is no longer far away. It’s a direct flight from Madrid. And for European travelers looking for uncrowded surf, active volcanoes, authentic culture, and incredible value — it’s time to put El Salvador on your map.

The post Direct Flight Between Spain and El Salvador – Madrid to San Salvador appeared first on El Salvador EN.

The new Hospital Nacional Rosales in San Salvador was officially inaugurated by President Nayib Bukele on the seventh anniversary of his government. Instead of a traditional speech, the president broadcast a live televised tour of the facility, accompanied by hospital director Dr. Marvin Aguilar and various medical specialists who explained every detail of the equipment, services, and innovations.

Two Buildings, One Connected Campus

The hospital complex consists of two parts:

• New building: A modern, four-story structure with two basement levels, built on the opposite side of Avenida 25.
• Restored historic building: The original Rosales Hospital, which had suffered decades of deterioration, was fully restored and modernized.

The two buildings are separated by the street but connected by an elevated walkway, allowing seamless integration of services.

An important point to highlight is that during the hospital’s inauguration, it was mentioned that only selected areas of the facility would be shown. Although the entire hospital was inaugurated, only about 10% of it was presented during the broadcast, as showcasing the whole complex would have made the program excessively long.

World-Class Equipment

During the tour, specialists highlighted technology rarely found in public hospitals anywhere in the world:

The Unique Surgical Microscope

In a neurosurgery and cardiovascular operating room, a doctor explained that the surgical microscope installed there is so advanced that only three exist in the entire American continent – two in the United States and this one in El Salvador. It enables extremely precise procedures on the brain, spine, and heart.

Angiography Unit (Hemodynamics)

Dr. Wendy Amaya presented the hospital’s advanced hemodynamics angiograph, which she described as the only one of its kind in all of Central America. It allows high-definition diagnostic imaging and minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions in the same machine.

Hybrid Operating Room

The microscope is housed inside a hybrid operating room that integrates:

• A CT scanner
• A 3-Tesla MRI
• An advanced angiograph

This allows surgeons to diagnose and operate simultaneously, without moving the patient.

Robotic Surgery

The hospital has two surgical robots for:

• General surgery
• Orthopedics
• Joint replacements (hip, knee, spine)

Other Innovative Services

• Bone marrow transplant – the first public service of its kind in El Salvador, previously unavailable in the country.
• DX-10 liver support system – the first in El Salvador, used for liver failure.
• Hemodialysis – 140 to 150 machines, providing 420 treatments per day.
• Laboratory – capacity of 2,600 tests per hour, serving up to 2,000 patients daily.
• Chemotherapy – 48 chairs.
• 47 medical specialties available.

Capacity

Staff

A total of 3,200 people were hired:

• 3,000 Salvadorans
• 200 foreign specialists – experts who came to train local medical staff and treat patients.

Free for All Patients

President Bukele repeatedly emphasized during the tour:

“This is a completely free hospital for the people. Any Salvadoran can come here.”

Every service – including robotic surgery, bone marrow transplants, and advanced imaging – is provided at no cost to patients.

Sustainability

The new hospital was built with sustainability in mind:

• Solar panels
• Energy-saving systems
• Natural lighting
• Water treatment and conservation

It holds international certifications including ISO and EDGE, making it a resilient and eco-friendly hospital.

Why This Matters for International Audiences

For those unfamiliar with El Salvador, this project represents a major leap in public healthcare. A small Central American nation has invested in a public, free-to-use hospital that rivals top-tier medical centers in developed countries.

The combination of advanced technology – including a microscope that only exists in two other places in the Americas – and a commitment to universal access shows a new standard for public health infrastructure in the region.

All information based on the official inauguration tour on June 1, 2026, as broadcast by the Government of El Salvador

The post El Salvador Opens One of Central America’s Most Advanced Public Hospitals appeared first on El Salvador EN.

The recent visit of Chile’s president-elect, José Antonio Kast, to El Salvador marked a clear step beyond political observation and into formal diplomacy. Unlike his earlier trip to the country in 2024, this time Kast arrived as the incoming head of state of Chile and was received accordingly, including an official meeting with President Nayib Bukele.

Although Kast has not yet formally assumed office — his presidential inauguration is still pending — his status as president-elect places him in a distinct diplomatic category.

During this visit, El Salvador extended him an official reception consistent with that of a head of state, underscoring the political and symbolic importance of the encounter.

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An official meeting, not a symbolic stop

The meeting between Kast and Bukele focused primarily on public security, organized crime, and state authority, areas in which El Salvador has drawn intense regional and international attention.

The encounter was not framed as a partisan exchange or an informal conversation, but rather as a government-to-government dialogue between the current president of El Salvador and Chile’s incoming leader.

This distinction is important. In 2024, Kast visited El Salvador as a presidential candidate and opposition figure, without a formal meeting with Bukele. In January 2026, however, he returned with the legitimacy of an electoral mandate and the institutional weight that comes with it.

El Salvador’s growing diplomatic relevance

That El Salvador chose to receive Chile’s president-elect with full protocol reflects the country’s expanding influence in regional political discussions — particularly on security.

In much of Latin America, where crime, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations have increased sharply, El Salvador’s approach has become a point of reference, regardless of ongoing international debate and criticism.

For politicians and governments across the region, engagement with El Salvador — and with Bukele personally — has become a way to signal seriousness on security, state control, and public order. Kast’s official meeting fits squarely within that broader trend.

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A signal from Chile’s next government

By meeting Bukele in an official capacity before taking office, Kast is sending a clear message about the priorities of his future administration. Security is positioned not only as a domestic policy issue, but also as a central component of Chile’s regional engagement.

In that sense, the visit goes beyond symbolism. It reflects how El Salvador has become an unavoidable reference point in Latin America’s security debate — and how Chile’s next president intends to engage with that reality from the very start of his term.

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The post Chile’s President-Elect Meets Nayib Bukele in Official Visit to El Salvador appeared first on El Salvador EN.

José Antonio Kast, the recently elected President of Chile, made a high-profile visit to El Salvador in late January, drawing regional and international attention.

For many outside Latin America, Kast may be an unfamiliar figure, but his visit — and its timing — offers important clues about the priorities of Chile’s next government and about El Salvador’s growing influence in regional security debates.

Who is José Antonio Kast?

José Antonio Kast is a Chilean politician and leader of the Republican Party who won Chile’s presidential election in December 2025.

Known for his strong emphasis on public order, state authority, and security, Kast campaigned on addressing rising crime and organized criminal activity — issues that have become central concerns for many Chileans in recent years. He is scheduled to formally assume office in March 2026.

A visit with new political weight

This was not Kast’s first trip to El Salvador. In April 2024, while still an opposition leader, he visited the country and toured the CECOT (Terrorism Confinement Center), El Salvador’s maximum-security prison.

That earlier visit was informal and technical in nature; Kast did not meet President Nayib Bukele and framed the trip as an opportunity to observe security policies rather than engage diplomatically.

The recent visit, however, is fundamentally different. As President-elect of Chile, Kast now represents the incoming government. His meetings and public appearances therefore carry official significance, even before his formal inauguration.

In this context, the trip can reasonably be understood as a de facto official visit.

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Meeting President Bukele and the focus on security

During his stay, Kast met with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and again visited the CECOT facility. Discussions centered on public security, organized crime, and prison systems — areas where El Salvador has drawn both praise and criticism for its aggressive policies against gangs and criminal organizations.

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Kast has stated that Chile does not intend to replicate El Salvador’s approach wholesale. Instead, he has emphasized studying how El Salvador restored state control, improved enforcement capacity, and prioritized security at the highest political level, with the goal of adapting certain lessons to Chile’s legal and institutional framework.

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El Salvador’s growing regional influence

El Salvador’s security strategy has become a reference point across Latin America, particularly in countries where citizens perceive that crime and organized violence are increasing faster than the state’s ability to respond.

Regardless of international controversy, the visible reduction of everyday violence has given El Salvador outsized influence in regional discussions about law enforcement and state authority.

Kast’s visit reflects this shift. By engaging with Bukele as President-elect, he is signaling that security will be a defining priority of his administration and that Chile is open to learning from experiences in the region.

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More than a policy visit

Beyond security policy, the visit also serves a diplomatic purpose. It introduces Kast to the international stage as Chile’s next head of government, establishes early relationships with regional leaders, and communicates — both domestically and abroad — the direction his presidency is likely to take.

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In short, while José Antonio Kast has visited El Salvador before, this trip marks his transition from political observer to incoming head of state. It highlights how El Salvador has become an unavoidable reference in Latin America’s security debate and signals how Chile’s next government intends to position itself in that conversation.

José Antonio Kast’s visits to El Salvador in 2024 and again in January 2026 illustrate a broader regional trend. In 2024, Kast traveled to the country as a Chilean presidential candidate; in 2026, he returned as Chile’s president-elect — a status he holds until the formal inauguration ceremony takes place.

The contrast between these two visits highlights how El Salvador, and President Nayib Bukele in particular, have become reference points for politicians across the region.

For many political leaders, being seen in El Salvador or associated with Bukele signals a commitment to restoring order and strengthening public security.

This is especially relevant in Latin America, where crime, gangs, and organized criminal groups have expanded in recent years, often outpacing the state’s response. As a result, El Salvador now carries significant symbolic and political weight in regional debates about security, making it a destination that many politicians deliberately seek out.

The post Chile’s President-Elect José Antonio Kast Visits El Salvador appeared first on El Salvador EN.

The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR) has announced a new gold acquisition valued at USD $50 million, reinforcing efforts to strengthen and diversify the country’s international reserves.

This purchase follows a previous gold acquisition of approximately USD $50 million in September 2025, making these the first two gold purchases carried out by the BCR since the 1990s. Together, they represent a clear shift in reserve policy and a renewed institutional focus on gold as a strategic asset.

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For decades, gold gradually disappeared from El Salvador’s reserve strategy. Under administrations led by other political parties, large portions of the country’s gold holdings were sold off, leaving gold to represent only about 7% of total reserves.

How Past Governments in El Salvador Sold Almost All of the Country’s Gold Reserves">

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This long period of divestment significantly reduced the country’s exposure to an asset traditionally viewed as a long-term store of value and a hedge against financial instability.

The most significant reduction occurred under socialist-led governments, which liquidated approximately 80% of the gold reserves El Salvador held at that time. These decisions fundamentally reshaped the structure of national reserves and pushed gold into a marginal role within the country’s financial framework.

The recent back-to-back gold purchases signal a strategic reversal. Gold is once again being positioned as a core reserve asset, reflecting a broader effort to rebuild long-term financial resilience, diversify risk, and restore balance to El Salvador’s reserve composition.

In parallel with this renewed focus on gold, El Salvador continues to expand its national Bitcoin reserve strategy. The country has adopted a policy of regular Bitcoin accumulation—buying Bitcoin on an ongoing basis (frequently reported as daily purchases)—as part of a long-term sovereign reserve model.

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Holdings: Check the Live National Reserve Count!">

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Bitcoin has been formally integrated into the country’s reserve framework as a strategic digital asset, rather than a speculative instrument.

Together, these policies reflect a dual-track reserve strategy: strengthening traditional safe-haven assets like gold while simultaneously building exposure to emerging digital reserve assets such as Bitcoin.

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This approach represents a fundamental transformation in how El Salvador manages national reserves—moving away from a narrow, conventional model toward a diversified structure designed for long-term stability, resilience, and sovereignty in an evolving global financial system.

The post El Salvador Buys More Gold: USD $50M Purchase Announced [January 29, 2026] appeared first on El Salvador EN.