Exploring Bolivia's Military Strength And Capabilities

Bolivia's military, the Bolivian Armed Forces, is comprised of the Bolivian Army, the Bolivian Air Force, and the Bolivian Navy, with the Bolivian National Police serving as part of the reserves. The Armed Forces are responsible for the defence of Bolivia against both external and internal threats and are constituted by around 40,000 to 70,000 troops, with an additional 40,000 police troops. In June 2024, the country faced a brief coup attempt when armoured vehicles and soldiers led by General Juan Jose Zuniga, the former commander of the army, stormed the government palace. The coup was short-lived, however, as President Luis Arce confronted Zuniga and ordered him to stand down, with the new army commander also ordering troops to stand down.

Bolivian Army

The Bolivian Army, or Ejército Boliviano, is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of Bolivia. It is responsible for protecting the country from internal and external threats and ensuring the country's independence. The Bolivian Army has around 55,500 men, with estimates placing the number between 26,000 and 60,000.

The Army is organised into ten territorial divisions, titled Army Divisions (AD), plus a mechanised division. These include:

• 1st Mechanised Division
• 1st AD
• 2nd AD (Mountain)
• 3rd AD
• 4th AD
• 5th AD
• 6th AD
• 7th Army Division
• 8th AD
• 9th AD (Reserve)
• 10th AD

The Army maintains a small fleet of utility aircraft, primarily to support headquarters. It also has various combat units, including infantry, cavalry, artillery, and special forces regiments.

The Bolivian Army has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various departments of Bolivia:

• RM 1, La Paz
• RM 2, Potosí
• RM 3, Tarija
• RM 4, Sucre
• RM 5, Cobija
• RM 6, Santa Cruz

The standard uniform for enlisted personnel is a beret bearing the national colours of red, yellow, and green. Armoured troops and paratroopers wear black berets, while special forces wear distinctive camouflage uniforms with green berets.

Bolivian Air Force

The Bolivian Air Force (FAB) is the air force of Bolivia and a branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces. It is responsible for the defence of Bolivia, both external and internal, and is constituted by the Bolivian Army, the Bolivian Air Force, and the Bolivian Navy. The Bolivian Air Force falls under the Ministry of Defence.

The Bolivian Air Force has nine air bases, located at La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Puerto Suárez, Tarija, Villamontes, Cobija, Riberalta, and Roboré. The air force is organized into air brigades, which are formed by one to three air groups. The air groups are based at 13 locations across Bolivia, including La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Puerto Suárez, Tarija, Villamontes, Cobija, Trinidad, Riberalta, Roboré, Uyuni, Oruro, Sucre, and Chimoré.

The Bolivian Air Force has a General Command Systems Department in La Paz, which is equipped with sophisticated computers. The force also includes the Group of Air-Defense (Grupo Aereo de Defensa Anteaerea – GADA), with seven brigades (GADA-91 to GADA-97).

The First Air Brigade is based in El Alto and includes the Fighter Group 31 "Gral. Jorge Jordán Mercado" and the Transport Air Group 71 "Gen. W.A.Rojas" (Military airlift TAM). The Second Air Brigade is based in Cochabamba and includes the Fighter Group 34 "P.R.Cuevas" and the Air Group Search and Rescue 51. The Third Air Brigade is based in Santa Cruz and includes the Fighter Group 32 "B.B.Rioja" and the COLMILAV Air Group Training 21. The Fourth Air Brigade is based in Tarija and includes the Air Group 82 "Cap.A.V.Peralta" and the Air Group 63 "Tcnl.E.L.Rivera". The Fifth Air Brigade is based in Trinidad and includes the Group Air 72. The Sixth Air Brigade is based in Cobija and includes the Group Air 64.

The Bolivian Air Force also has a civilian wing, the Bolivian Military Airline (TAM), which operates passenger services to remote towns and communities in the north and northeast of Bolivia. Another civil transport airline, Bolivian Air Transport (TAB), is a subsidiary of the FAB and operates heavy cargo services to most countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Bolivian Navy

Bolivia is a landlocked country that ceded its entire 250-mile coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific, which lasted from 1879 to 1883. Despite this, the country has refused to give up on regaining its shoreline, and the Bolivian Navy is a physical embodiment of this refusal. Established in 1963, the Bolivian Navy is a branch of the country's armed forces and is responsible for the defence of Bolivia, both external and internal.

The Bolivian Navy, officially known as the Armada Boliviana, has a unique role among naval forces worldwide. With no coastline to call its own, the Bolivian Navy patrols the country's extensive river and lake systems, including the Amazon River and Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca, which Bolivia shares with Peru, is the highest navigable lake in the world. The Bolivian Navy has a presence on the lake, with a naval base located at Tiquina.

The Bolivian Navy's fleet includes several dozen boats, with a particular focus on riverine patrol vessels. In addition to its river and lake patrols, the Navy also has a small number of seagoing vessels, including the American-made PR-51 Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The Navy's personnel are well-trained and often educated at the Bolivian Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Military and Naval Science. The Bolivian Navy also has several Special Forces units to address both internal and external conflicts.

The Bolivian Navy plays an important role in the country's efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling. It also provides support to remote communities, delivering medical supplies and assisting during natural disasters. The Navy has approximately 5,000 personnel and is organised into ten naval districts, with flotilla headquarters and bases located across the country.

The Bolivian Navy is more than just a military force; it is a symbol of the country's hope and determination to reclaim its coastline. The Navy actively participates in parades and government functions, especially the Día del Mar (Day of the Sea), during which Bolivia reasserts its claim for sovereign access to the sea.

Bolivian National Police

The Bolivian National Police, known as the Policía Nacional de Bolivia (PNB), is a 40,000-strong force that falls under the command of the Minister of Interior and is responsible for internal security and maintaining law and order. The police force is accountable to the national government, with the Constitution stipulating that the president of the republic is the commander-in-chief of the police forces.

The Bolivian police force was first organised by the Marshal of Ayacucho, Antonio José de Sucre, on 24 June 1826, and was officially established in 1886. However, it was only in 1937 that the police became institutionalised at the national level with the creation of the National Corps of Carabineers (Cuerpo Nacional de Carabineros) and the Police School (Escuela de Policía). The Police School was later renamed the National Police Academy (Academia Nacional de Policías), which offers a four-year course for officers.

The police force consists of various specialised units, including the National Guard, the Directorate of National Investigations, the Customs Police, the Traffic Police, the National Highway Service, and the Fire Corps. These units are led by a Commandant General and organised on a territorial basis, with each department of Bolivia having a police district subdivided into zones.

The National Police also has a presence at major land and air border points and works closely with INTERPOL to tackle international crime, particularly in areas such as organised crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

In addition to its law enforcement duties, the Bolivian National Police plays a role in the country's reserves, as per the Organic Law of the Armed Forces.

Bolivian Armed Forces' role

The Bolivian Armed Forces, officially called the Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivia, are responsible for the defence of Bolivia from both external and internal threats. The Armed Forces are made up of the Bolivian Army, the Bolivian Air Force, and the Bolivian Navy. The Bolivian National Police Force is also part of the Armed Forces' reserves, along with other reserve bodies such as the SAR-FAB emergency and rescue units.

The Bolivian Army, or Ejército Boliviano, is the land force branch of the Armed Forces. It has around 55,500 men and is organised into ten divisions, each generally corresponding to the country's administrative departments. The Army also has six military regions (regiones militares—RMs) covering the various departments of Bolivia. The Army maintains a small fleet of utility aircraft, primarily to support headquarters.

The Bolivian Air Force, or Fuerza Aérea Boliviana, is the air branch of the Armed Forces. It has nine air bases located in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Puerto Suárez, Tarija, Villamontes, Cobija, Riberalta, and Roboré. The Air Force has various major commands, including the General Command Systems Department in La Paz, the Group of Security and Defense of Air Installations, and four air brigades with thirteen subordinate air groups.

The Bolivian Navy, or Fuerza Naval Boliviana, is a naval force that is around 5,000 strong. Bolivia has been landlocked since the War of the Pacific in 1879, but the Navy exists to keep alive the hope of recovering its coast. The Navy takes part in many parades and government functions, especially the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea), during which Bolivia asks for the return of the coast territories lost to Chile during the War of the Pacific. The Navy is organised into ten naval districts, with flotilla headquarters in Guaqui, Guayaramerín, Puerto Suárez, Riberalta, and San Pedro de Tiquina, and bases in Puerto Busch, Puerto Horquilla, Puerto Villarroel, Trinidad, and Rurrenabaque. The Navy has several dozen boats, most of which are for riverine patrol, and also operates a few seagoing vessels.

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