Bolivia has signed a new cooperation agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking. The U.S. State Department will provide up to $20 million to train and equip Bolivian security forces. This deal represents a major thaw in bilateral relations, occurring 18 years after former President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from the country.
Under centrist President Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia has joined the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. The foreign ministry stated the agreement aims to strengthen institutions responsible for public security, criminal investigations, and organized crime enforcement. This policy reversal follows Paz’s appointment of Ernesto Justiniano as defense minister and his participation in the inaugural Shield of the Americas summit in Florida.
The alliance has also provided political backing to the Paz administration amid recent anti-government protests. Regional leaders recently issued a joint statement supporting Bolivia's constitutional order against destabilization efforts. While the coalition focuses on combating narco-terrorism, broader U.S. interdiction strategies continue, including maritime strikes against alleged smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.