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Fact check

Is it true: The 1973 CIA-Backed Coup in Chile?

Confirmed95% confidence

Yes — this is confirmed.

Declassified CIA, State Department, and Nixon White House records confirm that the US government ran covert operations (Track I and Track II) to prevent Allende from taking power in 1970, orchestrated a multi-year destabilisation campaign including media operations and economic pressure, and maintained contacts with coup-minded Chilean military officers. CIA Track II assets facilitated the weapons used in the kidnapping and killing of General René Schneider. The verdict is confirmed for documented US covert involvement; debate continues among historians about the degree of direct CIA involvement in the September 11 coup itself.

The claim

On September 11, 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende died as military forces bombed the presidential palace and seized power, installing General Augusto Pinochet. Declassified CIA, State Departme

Key evidence

CIA Track II: authorised kidnapping/coup before Allende took office

CIA did not command the September 11 coup directly — Chilean military had independent motives

Read the full evidence file

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