The U.S. is reaffirming its support for Bolivia’s government amid rising tensions and warnings of a coup, as social unrest continues over economic issues and fuel prices.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that the United States is committed to defending Bolivia’s government, which is facing significant unrest and coup warnings. In a post on X, Hegseth emphasized that the War Department and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), a newly formed multinational military and political alliance, reject any attempts to destabilize the administration of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira, who has been in office for just six months.
“The United States is watching. Bolivia must not allow itself to fall prey to the old status quo of narco-terrorist dominance in the region,” Hegseth stated. “We will continue to support our A3C partners like Bolivia to ensure that narco-terrorists are deterred from profiting on death and destruction in our hemisphere.”
Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, has experienced weeks of social unrest, with mass protests disrupting daily life in major cities. The unrest has been fueled by economic inflation and a sharp increase in fuel prices. Recently, Bolivian Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas resigned amid the escalating crisis.
Upon taking office, President Paz introduced a land reform bill aimed at boosting agribusiness, which Indigenous farmers have criticized as a threat to their livelihoods. Additionally, the government eliminated fuel subsidies, resulting in prices surging by nearly 90%. Many motorists have reported issues with contaminated gasoline damaging their vehicles.
The Trump administration has attributed the ongoing unrest to drug traffickers, suggesting that they are inciting the protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this stance on Wednesday, stating on X, “Let there be no mistake: the United States stands squarely in support of Bolivia’s legitimate constitutional government. We will not allow criminals and drug traffickers to overthrow democratically elected leaders in our hemisphere.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau echoed these sentiments, describing the protests as part of a broader “coup d’état” fueled by a “perverse alliance between politics and organized crime across the region.”
In the midst of this turmoil, former President Evo Morales, who served as Bolivia’s first Indigenous president for 14 years, has called for early elections. He remarked on X, “Paz only has two paths left: a suicidal decision like militarization or … an election in the next 90 days.”
Morales has been living in hiding in Bolivia’s central coca-growing Chapare region for nearly two years, evading an arrest warrant related to human trafficking charges. He has consistently denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated.
The situation in Bolivia continues to evolve, with international observers closely monitoring the developments as the U.S. maintains its position of support for the current government amid rising tensions.
According to Fox News, the U.S. government is taking a strong stance against the potential for a coup and the influence of narco-terrorists in the region.