Overview
- President Rodrigo Paz said Bolivia must change its relationship with Chile without abandoning the quest for sovereign access to the Pacific.
- Paz stated he is in direct dialogue with Chilean President Gabriel Boric on a strategy covering communication and infrastructure to improve ties.
- Boric attended Paz’s November 8 inauguration and met with him in La Paz, the first such encounter between leaders of the two countries in 19 years.
- Chile’s presidential race heads to a December 14 runoff between Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast, and Boric is scheduled to leave office on March 11, 2026, adding uncertainty to next steps.
- Paz signaled a broader policy shift from prior MAS governments and, in separate remarks, said his administration is uncovering extensive irregularities as it reorganizes the state.