Argentina, Chile defuse spat, vow united fight against pandemic and recession

FILE PHOTO: Chile's President Sebastian Pinera addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The leaders of Argentina and Chile have moved to defuse a recent diplomatic spat after officials in Santiago accused President Alberto Fernandez of "meddling" in Chile's internal affairs after he met with Chilean opposition leaders.

Centre-left Peronist Fernandez and conservative Sebastian Pinera held a call on Monday, saying the neighbouring countries would unite to face what they called the "dual enemies" of the coronavirus pandemic and economic recession.