Bolivia and Chile do not trust each other as a consequence of the Nitrate War (1879–83). The construction of the other as distrustful has shaped the discursive articulation of their bilateral relationship. However, since Evo Morales and Michelle Bachelet took office in Bolivia (2006-present) and Chile (2006–10) respectively, they have sought to change this culture of enmity to one of amity by constructing discursive strategies and articulations of Self and Other that are based on the principle of building mutual trust. Such a change is only possible to understand within the context of a crisis of meanings. The new approach of othering the counterpart as a friend has filled the void of meaning left by the crisis of discursive articulations of othering the counterpart as untrustworthy, distrustful, and even rival. Studying discursive strategic changes, from distrust to trust and reversions from trust to distrust, may also illuminate the material and social nature of the contemporary relationship between Bolivia and Chile.