Bolivia-Us Relations: Current Affairs And Dynamics

Bolivia and the United States have had a strained relationship since the election of Evo Morales in 2006. Morales, a former trade union leader of coca growers, has been publicly critical of US policies and has campaigned against coca eradication, citing the legitimate uses of coca leaves in traditional Aymara and Quechua culture. In 2008, the Bolivian government expelled the US ambassador, law enforcement, and development cooperation agencies, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, in 2019, after Morales resigned and went into exile, the conservative interim government of Jeanine Anez took steps to improve relations with the US, including naming a temporary ambassador for the first time in over a decade. Despite these efforts, relations between the two countries remain complex, with ongoing tensions over issues such as drug policy, human rights, and foreign policy alliances.

The election of Evo Morales strained relations

The election of Evo Morales as president in 2006 caused fresh tensions between Bolivia and the US. Morales' platform included programs to return land and power to the Aymara people of Bolivia, to nationalize key industries, and to legalize the use of coca, a traditional Aymara medicine. Morales' policies were often termed "Evonomics" and focused on creating a mixed economy.

In September 2008, US President George W. Bush placed Bolivia on a counter-narcotics blacklist along with Venezuela. Bush said that Bolivia had "failed demonstrably" to meet commitments to combat the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, mainly cocaine. Morales responded by saying that the US had tried to thwart his policies and had failed to condemn a pro-autonomy movement that used terrorist tactics. Morales also accused the CIA of assisting the previous regime in Bolivia and said that the US military had supported illegal arms shipments to rebels.

In November 2010, Morales accused the US of aiding coup attempts in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador, as well as a successful coup in Honduras. He also denounced the US attempts to define whom Bolivia should have foreign relations with, alluding to disagreements over possible talks between Iran and Bolivia.

In September 2018, Morales accused the US of promoting torture and criticized President Donald Trump for threatening Venezuela and for its opposition to the International Criminal Court.

Relations between the two countries further deteriorated in July 2013, when Morales' plane, returning from Russia, landed in Vienna, Austria, after France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy closed their airspace to his plane due to unsubstantiated rumors that US whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board. Morales said that the US had pressured European countries to prevent his passage home and that he would potentially close the US Embassy in La Paz.

In November 2019, after accusations of fraud in the general election, Morales resigned as President and Senator Jeanine Áñez took power. Áñez steadily improved relations with the US, which had been at a low point under Morales' administration.

Bolivia expelled US ambassador and agencies

The United States and Bolivia have had a strained relationship since 2008, when the Bolivian government expelled the US ambassador, Philip S. Goldberg, along with US law enforcement and development cooperation agencies from the country. The Bolivian President at the time, Evo Morales, accused the US ambassador of conspiring against him and his government. Morales also claimed that the US ambassador had called him an "Andean bin Laden" and threatened to cut off aid if Bolivians voted for him. In response, the US government denied the allegations, calling them "false" and "absurd".

In addition to expelling the US ambassador, Morales also ordered the removal of US anti-narcotics officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Morales accused the DEA of supporting activities of an unsuccessful coup d'etat in Bolivia, ending a 35-year history of the agency's presence in the country. The decision to expel the DEA was based on accusations that they were involved in attempts to overthrow the Bolivian government and promote autonomy-seeking Santa Cruz politicians.

The expulsion of the US ambassador and law enforcement officials was not an isolated incident. In 2013, Morales also threatened to close the US Embassy in La Paz, stating, "We do not need the embassy of the United States." This threat came after his plane was forced to land in Vienna, Austria, due to unsubstantiated rumours that US whistleblower Edward Snowden was on board. Morales accused the US of pressuring European countries to prevent his passage home.

The tension between the two countries continued with the expulsion of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2013. Morales accused USAID of meddling in the affairs of the Bolivian people and seeking to "conspire against" them. The US State Department rejected these allegations as "baseless and unfounded". USAID had been working in Bolivia for almost five decades, with a budget of $52.1 million for the country in 2010. The expulsion of USAID further strained the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bolivia, as it was seen as a demonstration of the Bolivian government's lack of interest in mutual respect and cooperation.

US aid to Bolivia

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a key provider of US aid to Bolivia. Since 1964, USAID has spent nearly $2 billion on various programs in Bolivia, including those related to education, health, agriculture, food security, alternative development, economic development, and the environment. In 2013, the Obama administration requested a preliminary estimate of $13.5 million for development aid programs in Bolivia, with $7.5 million earmarked for health-related projects.

However, the relationship between the US and Bolivia has been strained at times, with accusations of political interference by the US. In 2013, Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled USAID from the country, alleging that the agency was seeking to undermine his leftist government and interfere in peasant unions and other social organizations. Morales also accused USAID of funding groups that opposed his policies, including a lowlands indigenous federation that protested against a highway project through the TIPNIS rainforest preserve.

Prior to the expulsion, there had been other instances of tension between the US and Bolivia. In 2008, Morales expelled the US ambassador and agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, accusing them of inciting the opposition. In 2011, Morales accused USAID of meddling in domestic affairs by inciting indigenous leaders to oppose the construction of a highway in a protected natural area.

Despite the tensions and expulsion of USAID, the US has continued to provide some level of aid to Bolivia. In 2004, the United States designated more than $150 million for assistance to Bolivia. Additionally, in 1998, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund awarded Bolivia a debt relief package worth $760 million, and Bolivia has also received relief under the World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program.

Bolivia's foreign policy shift

Bolivia's foreign policy has shifted significantly over the years, especially in relation to the United States.

Historically, Bolivia has had strong ties to the US, with the two countries establishing diplomatic relations in 1837 and the US recognising Bolivia as a sovereign state in 1848. The US has also been a long-standing consumer of Bolivian exports and a partner in development projects. In 1991, the US forgave over $350 million in debt owed by Bolivia.

However, the election of Evo Morales as president in 2006 strained relations between the two countries. Morales, a former trade union leader of coca growers, campaigned against coca eradication, citing its legitimate use in traditional Aymara and Quechua culture. This policy directly conflicted with the US's eradication agenda.

Morales was publicly critical of US policies and accused the country of interfering in Bolivia's internal affairs. In 2008, the Bolivian government expelled the US ambassador, Philip Goldberg, accusing him of conspiring with the opposition. The Bolivian government also suspended the operations of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing the organisation of violating the country's sovereignty and supporting an unsuccessful coup.

In addition to the US, Bolivia's relations with other countries have also been influenced by its foreign policy shifts. Bolivia has sought to diversify its diplomatic relations and reduce its dependence on traditional partners. The country has pursued a foreign policy with a heavy economic component, becoming more active in regional organisations such as the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Rio Group, and MERCOSUR.

Bolivia has also strengthened its ties with left-wing Latin American governments, particularly Venezuela, and sought to develop relations with countries such as Russia, China, and Iran. In 2010, Bolivia and Venezuela, along with other countries, formed the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a substitute regional space that excluded the US.

In recent years, there have been further shifts in Bolivian foreign policy. After Morales' resignation in 2019, the interim government of Jeanine Áñez improved relations with the US, naming a temporary ambassador for the first time in over a decade. However, relations worsened again after the election of Luis Arce in 2020, with the US criticising the Bolivian government over human rights concerns and political arrests.

US-Bolivia relations under Jeanine Áñez

US-Bolivia relations underwent a significant shift under the interim government of Jeanine Áñez, who served as Bolivia's president from 2019 to 2020. During this period, relations between the two countries improved, marking a departure from the tensions that characterised the tenure of former President Evo Morales.

Áñez assumed the presidency of Bolivia following the resignation and departure of Evo Morales, who left the country amid protests and allegations of electoral fraud. As a right-wing senator, Áñez had been a vocal critic of Morales and his close ties with Venezuela, Cuba, and other leftist governments in the region. Upon taking office, she moved swiftly to improve relations with the United States, naming a temporary ambassador to the US for the first time in over a decade. This represented a significant shift in Bolivia's foreign policy orientation.

The Áñez administration took steps to align more closely with the United States, including terminating Bolivia's close links with Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. This realignment was welcomed by the US government, which had been critical of Morales' administration. The US also expressed support for Áñez's government in the wake of the political crisis that led to her ascension, with State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter urging Bolivian authorities to uphold civil rights and due process guarantees.

However, the improved relations between the US and Bolivia under Áñez were short-lived. In October 2020, socialist candidate Luis Arce won the presidential election, marking a return to power for Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS). Relations between the US and Bolivia quickly deteriorated following Arce's victory, particularly after Áñez and several of her cabinet ministers were arrested in March 2021 and charged with criminal offences related to massacres that occurred during her presidency.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called for Áñez's release, arguing that her detention was politically motivated. In response, the Arce administration accused the United States of interfering in Bolivia's internal affairs. This marked a new low in US-Bolivia relations, underscoring the fragile nature of the improved ties that had been established under Áñez's interim government.

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