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U.S. and Bolivia Will Restore Ambassadorial Ties After 17 Years

The shift signals a pragmatic pivot driven by Bolivia’s urgent need for dollars and fuel.

Overview

  • At President Rodrigo Paz’s inauguration in La Paz, U.S. Under Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the return of ambassadors for the first time since 2008.
  • Both governments said preliminary technical working groups are in place to expand cooperation in education, citizen security, economic development, trade and foreign investment.
  • Ambassadorial nominations have not been announced, and the timeline for exchanging envoys depends on standard diplomatic procedures and ongoing talks.
  • Paz said he is open to renewed cooperation against narcotrafficking, including a potential role for the DEA, with specifics still to be negotiated.
  • The reset follows the 2008 expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and the removal of the DEA and USAID, as the new government seeks international support after pre-inauguration outreach in Washington.