Bolivia and US restore Ambassadors!
La Paz, Nov. 8 (EFE) –
The United States will restore ambassador-level diplomatic relations with Bolivia for the first time in 17 years, United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced Saturday, following his attendance at the inauguration of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira.
Speaking briefly to the press in La Paz alongside Paz, Landau said Washington and the new Bolivian government had maintained “very close communication in recent weeks.”
He added, “Now that he is the president, we are going to restore relations at the ambassador level, as it always should have been.”
A diplomatic break comes to an end
Relations between the two countries have remained at the chargé d’affaires level since 2008, when former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2006-2019) expelled United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg, accusing Washington of conspiracy, allegations the US denied.
Morales’ government also expelled USAID and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“It has been very unusual and very sad that we have not had ambassadors in Washington nor in La Paz,” Landau stated.
“Diplomacy is, in the end, communication. Without an ambassador in the other country’s capital, that becomes more difficult.” He expressed hope that both sides will announce new ambassador appointments “very soon.”
Landau emphasized that both governments have expressed a desire for a “good relationship” going forward.
Paz calls move a step toward reopening Bolivia
President Paz thanked the US delegation for attending his inauguration and asked Landau to “convey a message of cordiality and fraternity” to United States President Donald Trump and his administration.
He described the restoration of diplomatic ties as part of a broader shift in Bolivia’s foreign policy direction.
“This means reopening Bolivia to the world and the world to Bolivia,” he said. “We will resume relations with the US, as we will with other nations, from which ideological dogmatism has isolated us.”
Paz stressed that foreign engagement will be guided by “democracy, development, and human values.”
Last week, Paz traveled to the US to meet with multilateral institutions to secure fuel supplies and financial support to stabilize Bolivia’s dollar availability, as well as to hold talks with US government representatives.
Security cooperation and future outlook
The announcement has prompted concern among some leaders from the previous left-leaning administrations of Morales and former Bolivian president Luis Arce (2020–2025), who have warned against a potential return of the DEA.
Paz said any cooperation would be based on national priorities.
“All institutions, not only from the United States but from neighboring countries and globally, that want to work jointly to make Bolivia a safer country, where illicit activities are not part of daily life, will have a place in Bolivia,” the president said. gb-grb/seo
