When the average American thinks of Chile, fruits, vegetables and a beautiful countryside probably come to mind. All that’s fine and dandy, and of course those things are there, but global interest in the Chilean economy didn’t spike for good grapes.

By March 2011 Chile had purchased nearly $1 billion in military products from the U.S. over a 20-year period. According to a fact sheet by the Department of Defense, $180 million of those transactions have occurred since 2008.

In April 2012 former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited the country to discuss emerging issues, including drug trafficking and cyber security, and reaffirmed support for Chilean and American shared values.

As United Press International reported, the U.S. Army has undertaken an initiative to ‘go green’ in ammunition production, utilizing copper rather than lead casings for bullets in the M4, M16, and small arms. This is where good U.S. and Chilean relations become imperative.

Chile is the world’s largest exporter of copper, accounting for one-third of the world’s total output. The State Department has divulged findings from the World Economic Forum and World Bank describing Chile as number one in “Ease of Doing Business” and global competitiveness in Latin America.

Chile’s biggest imports are petroleum products, of which the U.S. is the third largest producer world-wide. A mutually beneficial relationship is then easy to find in terms of trade: we need Chilean copper, and they need U.S. oil.

Furthermore, the Heritage Foundation has stopped talking about missile defense for a second and even acknowledged Chile as the seventh freest economy on Earth. Combined with a 20-year average of five-percent annual real GDP growth, this makes Chile the perfect nation for foreign investment and trade opportunities.

Unfortunately, U.S. policy makers aren’t the only ones with their eyes on the prize.

Russia has caused a lot of headaches in D.C. during the last few months with its defiance to the West in and around Syria and Ukraine, but it appears those actions aren’t enough to distract them from the big fish that is Chile.

IHS Jane’s, a defense analysis company, has revealed talks between the two countries to enhance cooperation in defense and the “ratification of existing military technical accords.” The same disclosure described this as part of Moscow’s expansion into the region both diplomatically and militarily – a move eerily similar to those taken by the former Soviet Union.

U.S. opposition to violent military crackdowns stands in the way of making us Chile’s go-to partner in this terrifying world. During a speech in Santiago, President Obama remarked “that simply holding power does not give a leader the right to suppress the rights of others, and that leaders must maintain power through consent, not coercion.” That speech was publicized by the State Department.

Chile has been battling Mapuche extremists since its return to democracy in 1990. Recently inaugurated President Michelle Bachelet has said on record she would not use anti-terror legislation to prosecute these indigenous fighters – indicating a return to the values and liberties we all hold dear.

With this in mind, it’s important that the U.S. appease Chile and prove itself to be not only free of any covert meddling in domestic Chilean affairs but also the most capable and beneficial partner in the free world for both trade and diplomacy.

American statesmen are gravitating toward Chile in friendly notions, giving the country an opportunity to be the first in Latin America to sign a free trade agreement with the U.S., hailing Chilean responses to natural disasters like that in Haiti, and as outlined by the Department of Defense, frequent visits from high ranking officials, including every U.S. Service chief.

Securing a strong relationship with Chile would not only open one of the world’s best markets to ordinary Americans even further but also provide an absolutely necessary supply of copper for the U.S. Army and other infrastructure.

If American policy makers want to see more cooperation with Chile, it’s time to provide assistance in dealing with the Mapuche, who are already responsible for 67 attacks in 2014, before Russia comes to their aid.

Such a proud and prosperous nation as Chile should be neither ignored nor talked down to. U.S. officials must approach their Chilean counterparts amicably and prove our nation’s interests to be the same as theirs: security, democracy, and free trade.

Next time you see a commercial about Chilean grapes, remember how small a part of the puzzle that is. Bullets and bananas are great, but it’s time for American policymakers to extend the hand of friendship and let the Chilean people know we’re on their side.