Foreign relations of Bolivia

Bolivia traditionally has maintained normal diplomatic relations with all hemispheric states except Chile. Foreign relations are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by the Chancellor of Bolivia, Fernando Huanacuni Mamani, the successor of David Choquehuanca Céspedes.

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Overview

Relations with Chile, strained since Bolivia's defeat in the War of the Pacific (1879–83) and its loss of the coastal province of Atacama, were severed from 1962 to 1975 in a dispute over the use of the waters of the Lauca River. Relations were resumed in 1975 but broken again in 1978 over the inability of the two countries to reach an agreement that solved the Atacama border dispute, that might have granted Bolivia a sovereign access to the sea. In the 1960s, relations with Cuba were broken by the Bolivian dictatorship following Castro's rise to power but resumed under the Paz Estenssoro Administration in 1985, which was elected through democratic elections.

Bolivia pursues a foreign policy with a heavy economic component. Bolivia has become more active in the Organization of American States (OAS), the Rio Group, and in MERCOSUR, with which it signed an association agreement in 1996. Bolivia promotes its policies on sustainable development and the empowerment of indigenous people.

Bolivia is a member of the United Nations and some of its specialized agencies and related programs; OAS; Andean Community; INTELSAT; Non-Aligned Movement; International Parliamentary Union; Latin American Integration Association ALADI; World Trade Organization; Rio Treaty; Rio Group; MERCOSUR; and Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia (URUPABOL, restarted in 1993). As an outgrowth of the 1994 Summit of the Americas, Bolivia hosted a hemispheric summit conference on sustainable development in December 1996. A First Ladies' hemispheric summit was also hosted by Bolivia that same month.

Bolivia is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the United States-military (as covered under Article 98).

The GeGaLo Index of gains and losses after energy transition ranks Bolivia 128th out of 156 countries.[1] It is thus among the countries that will lose strength on the international stage if a global transition to renewable energy is carried out and there is no longer demand for Bolivian oil and gas.[1] It is estimated to experience the third largest loss of all Latin American countries (after Colombia and Venezuela).

United Nations involvement

Bolivia has frequently been involved with the United Nations. In November 2008, the Bolivian contingent of UN peacekeeping troops with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was relocated to safety, as at least one other regional state was also reviewing its own mission's security. The country had a detachment of 130 soldiers that was working in Bukavu, but was moved to a location near Goma.[2] Bolivia currently serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, with a two-year term ending in 2018. While a member of the Security Council, Bolivia strongly criticized United States President Donald Trump's decision to move the United States' Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and called for a public meeting of the Security Council to respond to the decision.[3] The Bolivian delegation also joined Russia in casting a negative vote for the renewal of the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism in Syria, citing technical concerns about the Mechanism.[4]

International disputes

Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights.

Since the accession of Carlos Mesa to the Presidency, Bolivia has pressed its demands for a corridor to the Pacific. In March 2004, Mesa announced that the government would stage a series of public rallies across the country and in Bolivian embassies abroad in remembrance of those who died in the War of the Pacific, and to call for Chile to grant Bolivia a seacoast. Mesa made this demand a cornerstone of his administration's policy.

The incumbent president seeking reelection for a fourth term, maintains a hard position on this issue of which the symbolic importance is underlined by the fact that Bolivia also still has a navy, despite it not currently having access to the sea. In October 2018, the ICJ (International Court of Justice), ruled against Bolivia in a case that would determine whether or not Bolivia could force Chile to negotiate access to the sea. However, the ICJ did state that cooperation was desirable if workable solutions are to be found.

Illicit drugs

Bolivia is the world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 218 km2 under cultivation in 1999, a 45% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1998 levels; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the United States and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation.

Bilateral relations

Africa
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Egypt
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Cairo.
  • Egypt has an embassy in La Paz.
 Equatorial Guinea

In November 2017, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo paid an official visit to Bolivia becoming the first African head-of-state to ever visit Bolivia.[5]

 South AfricaSee Bolivia–South Africa relations
  • Bolivia maintains an honorary consulate in Johannesburg.
  • South Africa is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.

Americas
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 ArgentinaSee Argentina–Bolivia relations
 Belize1 October 1987
 Brazil

Brazil and Bolivia have been working on expanding and diversifying trade between the two countries in the last quarter of 2008. The 6th Meeting of the Commission for Monitoring Brazil-Bolivia trade was used to this end. As it stood, at the time Brazil was the main destination for exports from Bolivia, having bought, in 2007, 35.7% of the products that Bolivian companies sell to other countries. They were also the main exporter to Bolivia, sending 24.7% of products imported into Bolivia. As industrialized products represented 94.6% of Brazilian sales up to September of the year, Bolivian sales in the same period were limited largely to natural gas, which accounted for up to 92.7% of the total purchased from the country, or US$1.89 billion. The products with the greatest scope for an increase in trade from Brazil to Bolivia were crude oil, insecticides, aircraft, vehicle engines, soy in grain, vegetable oils and ironworks products, amongst others. From Bolivia to Brazil, products such as animal feed, vegetable oil, crude oil, tin, ores of precious metals, precious gems, dried and fresh fruit, plants, leather and garments were also capable of seeing sales grow.[9]

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Brasilia.
  • Brazil has an embassy in La Paz.
 ChileSee Bolivia–Chile relations

Bolivia and Chile have had strained relations ever since independence in the early 19th century because of the Atacama border dispute. Relations soured even more after Bolivia lost its coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific and became a landlocked country (Bolivia still claims a corridor to the Pacific Ocean.) Chile and Bolivia have maintained only consular relations since 1978 when territorial negotiations failed.

 Colombia
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Bogotá.
  • Colombia has an embassy in La Paz.
 Costa Rica
  • Bolivia has an embassy in San José.
  • Costa Rica has an embassy in La Paz.
 CubaSee Bolivia–Cuba relations
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Havana.
  • Cuba has an embassy in La Paz.
 Dominican RepublicJanuary 30, 1902
  • Bolivia is accredited to the Dominican Republic from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
  • Dominican Republic will open an embassy in La Paz.[12]
 Ecuador
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Quito.
  • Ecuador has an embassy in La Paz.
 El Salvador
  • Bolivia is accredited to El Salvador from its embassy in San José, Costa Rica.
  • El Salvador has an embassy in La Paz.
 Guyana12 March 1987
 Mexico1831See Bolivia–Mexico relations
 Nicaragua

Relations between Bolivia and Nicaragua have improved since the election of Daniel Ortega. In 2007, President Evo Morales stated that "Daniel Ortega's win gives strength and hope not only to Nicaragua but to all of Latin America." Both countries are members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA).

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Managua.
  • Nicaragua has an embassy in La Paz.
 Panama
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Panama City.
  • Panama has an embassy in La Paz.
 Paraguay

In 2009, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which led to a war in the 1930s. President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries" [16]

 Peru
 United StatesSee Bolivia–United States relations

Bolivia traditionally has had strong ties to the United States. Economically, the United States has been a long-standing consumer of Bolivian exports and a partner in development projects. In 1991 the United States forgave more than US$350 million owed by Bolivia to the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Presently, the United States leads an international contingent pressuring Bolivia to curb its illegal drug trade.

The election of Evo Morales strained relations between the two countries. Morales rose to power as the head of a trade union of coca growers. He has campaigned against coca eradication on behalf of the growers, citing the legitimate uses of coca leaves in traditional Aymara and Quechua culture. His policies directly conflict with the eradiction policy of the United States. In 2008 the Bolivian government suspended the operations of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) accusing the organisation of being a front for violating the country's sovereignty and supporting an unsuccessful coup d'état. Bolivia's government also expelled the US ambassador.[19] In 2008 Gustavo Guzmán, the Bolivian ambassador to Washington said "The U.S. embassy is historically used to calling the shots in Bolivia, violating our sovereignty, treating us like a banana republic", and Evo Morales, the Bolivian president said "Where there is a US ambassador, there is a coup".[20]

 UruguaySee Bolivia–Uruguay relations
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Montevideo.
  • Uruguay has an embassy in La Paz and a consulate-general in Santa Cruz de Sierra.
 Venezuela

On November 15, 2019, the Interim President of Bolivia Jeanine Áñez severed the diplomatic relations with Venezuela and accused Venezuelans with ties to that country's embassy in La Paz of "plotting against internal security" in Bolivia. On November 12, 2020, President Luis Arce reestablished diplomatic relations with Venezuela.[23]

Asia
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia1992

Both countries established diplomatic relations on July 27, 1992.[24]

 Azerbaijan 8 July 1996[25] Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Plurinational State of Bolivia were established on July 8, 1996.[25]
  • Azerbaijan is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[26]
 China1985See Bolivia–China relations

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bolivia in 1985, relations have expanded from economic and cultural ties to military, transport, infrastructure, raw materials, education and other areas. The two countries recently celebrated 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties in Beijing, July 9, 2010. In August 2010, China and Bolivia agreed to continue to develop military ties and cooperation.

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Beijing.
  • China has an embassy in La Paz.
 IndiaSee Bolivia–India relations
  • Bolivia has an embassy in New Delhi.
  • India has an embassy in La Paz.
 Indonesia1963
  • Bolivia is accredited to Indonesia from its embassy in Beijing, China.
  • Indonesia is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru. [27]
 IranSee Bolivia–Iran relations

Relations between Iran and Bolivia were strengthened during the presidencies of Evo Morales and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Morales supported Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy, while Iran has expanded economic relations and investments in Bolivia. Morales visited Iran more than once. During a visit, together with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he said there was a need to "strengthen the resistance front formed by independent and freedom-seeking nations to fight against imperialism and global hegemony."[28]

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Tehran.
  • Iran has an embassy in La Paz.
 Israel

In January 2009, Bolivia limited its relations with Israel in the wake of Israeli strikes in Gaza. Bolivia reportedly promised to take Israel to an international court for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. On 30 July 2014, Bolivian relations with Israel were further strained. During Operation Protective Edge, Bolivian President Evo Morales declared Israel a "terrorist state.[29] Following this declaration, Morales canceled a 30-year agreement that allowed Israelis to visit Bolivia without visas.[30] Following Morales's resignation and fleeing to Mexico in November 2019, relations were restored to their previous status.[31]

 Japan3 April 1914See Bolivia–Japan relations
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Tokyo.
  • Japan has an embassy in La Paz and a consular office in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
 Philippines7 January 1970
  • Bolivia is accredited to the Philippines from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
  • Philippines is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has two honorary consulates in La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. [32]
 South Korea25 April 1965[33]
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in La Paz.
 Malaysia
  • Bolivia is accredited to Malaysia from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. [34]
 Turkey1849[35]See Bolivia–Turkey relations
  • Turkey has an embassy in La Paz.[36]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$130 million in 2019 (Bolivian exports/imports: 108/22 million USD).[37]

Europe
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Austria
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Vienna.
  • Austria is accredited in Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
 Belgium
  • Belgium is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Brussels.
 DenmarkSee Bolivia–Denmark relations
  • Bolivia is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.[38]
  • Denmark is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.[39]
 Finland
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in La Paz.
 France
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Paris.
  • France has an embassy in La Paz.
 Germany1921

Diplomatic relations between the two states were broken during World War I. Relations were restored after the war under the agreement concluded on July 20, 1921.

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Berlin.
  • Germany has an embassy in La Paz.
 Greece
  • Bolivia is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy.
  • Greece is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 Italy
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Rome.
  • Italy has an embassy in La Paz.
 Netherlands
  • Bolivia has an embassy in The Hague.
  • Netherlands is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
 Norway
  • Bolivia is accredited to Norway from its embassy in London, United Kingdom.
  • Norway is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 Poland
  • Bolivia is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
  • Poland is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
 Portugal
  • Bolivia is accredited to Portugal from its embassy in Paris, France.
  • Portugal is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 RussiaSee Bolivia–Russia relations

With Bolivia the focus on relations with Russia is mainly economic, as opposed to political and strategic, as an agreement to invest in Bolivia's natural gas fields shows. It is seen to "help Latin America...[as it] expands Latin America's economic opportunities, diversifies its relationships...that's healthy."[40]

2008 saw, as a first step to re-establish ties with Russia, the Bolivian government had plans to purchase a small batch of helicopters. Ambassador Leonid Golubev told The Associated Press that he would like to see Russia's ties to Bolivia one day "approach the level" of its growing partnership with Venezuela.[41] [42]

In 2009 amid improving relations between the two countries Bolivia and Russia signed various agreements pertaining to energy and military ties, mining activities and illegal drug eradication. [41][43]

  • Bolivia has an embassy in Moscow.
  • Russia has an embassy in La Paz.
 Spain1847See Bolivia–Spain relations

A diplomatic crisis with Spain in 2005 due to a misunderstanding was quickly resolved by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Spain became the first European country visited by Evo Morales on January 4, 2006. However, there remain problems surrounding the exploitation of oil and gas fields in the country by Spanish corporations like Repsol.

Bolivian President Evo Morales met King Juan Carlos and held talks with Zapatero during a visit to Spain in September 2009 with the intention of resolving issues concerning the nationalisation of the Bolivian energy sector. The move has the potential to hurt some Spanish companies however relations were said to be "positive" between the Bolivian state and Spanish private sector energy companies. Evo Morales said that Bolivia is ready to accept outside investment in its energy and natural resource industries as long as foreign firms do not act as owners and that Bolivia is "looking for investment, be it from private or state sector. We want partners, not owners of our natural resources."

It was suggested that Bolivia would also negotiate with Spanish companies to produce car parts and lithium batteries in the future.[44]

 Sweden
  • Bolivia has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in La Paz.
  Switzerland
  • Bolivia is accredited to Switzerland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
  • Switzerland has an embassy in La Paz.
 United Kingdom
  • Bolivia has an embassy in London.
  • United Kingdom has an embassy in La Paz.

Oceania
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Australia

Bolivia and Australia work together on a wide variety of issues. Relations are good between the two countries. There is investment in mining services and technology, although trade is still quite small. Bolivia and Australia are part of the Cairns Group. In 2002, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile visited Santa Cruz for the Cairns Group meeting.

  • Australia is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
  • Bolivia is accredited to Australia from its embassy in Ottawa, Canada.
 New Zealand
  • Bolivia is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Ottawa, Canada.
  • New Zealand is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Santiago, Chile.

See also

References
  1. Overland, Indra; Bazilian, Morgan; Ilimbek Uulu, Talgat; Vakulchuk, Roman; Westphal, Kirsten (2019-11-01). "The GeGaLo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition". Energy Strategy Reviews. 26: 100406. doi:10.1016/j.esr.2019.100406. ISSN 2211-467X.
  2. "Congo violence prompts move of Bolivia's UN troops". Boston Herald. November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  3. "Bolivia to seek U.N. Security Council meeting on Jerusalem status". Reuters. December 6, 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  4. "Security Council Fails to Renew Mandate of Joint Investigative Mechanism on Chemical Weapons Use in Syria, as Permanent Member Casts Veto". United Nations News. October 24, 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
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  7. "Embajada de Bolivia en la Argentina". Embajada de Bolivia en Argentina. Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
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  9. http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2775227.html%5B%5D
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  11. "Consulate-General of Chile in La Paz (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  12. "República Dominicana abrirá embajadas en Bolivia y Vietnam" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  13. "Countries with which Guyana has Establishment Diplomatic Relations – Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Co-operative Republic of Guyana".
  14. "Portada". embol.org.mx.
  15. "Inicio". embamex.sre.gob.mx.
  16. "Bolivia and Paraguay agree border". BBC News. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  17. "Embajada de Bolivia". boliviaenperu.com.
  18. "Embassy of Peru in La Paz (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  19. "Bolivia halts US anti-drugs work". BBC News. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-12-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  22. "Embassy of the United States in La Paz (in English and Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
  23. https://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN27R2ZB
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  25. "Bolivia". mfa.gov.az. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  26. pickvisa.com. "Azerbaijan Embassies in Bolivia". pickvisa.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  27. "Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia, DI Lima" (in Indonesian). Indonesian Embassy in Lima, Peru. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  28. "Iran, Bolivia united against imperialism". Press TV. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  29. "Israel Is A 'Terrorist State': Bolivian President". International Business Times. 2014.
  30. Ahren, Raphael; staff, T. O. I. "Bolivia's interim government announces renewal of diplomatic ties with Israel". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  31. "Bolivia Renews Diplomatic Relations With Israel After Over Decade of Severed Ties". Haaretz. 28 November 2019.
  32. "Relaciones Bilaterales entre Bolivia y Filipinas" (in Spanish). Filipino Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  33. "Bolivia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  34. "Procedimiento de Legalización de Documentos de Origen de Países En los Cuales Bolivia no tiene una Embajada o Consulado, y a los cuales Ninguna Embajada de Bolivia es Concurrente". Bolivian Embassy in Beijing, PRC. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  35. "II.Bilateral Relations (Main Documents)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  36. "Relations between Turkey and Bolivia".
  37. "Relations between Turkey and Bolivia".
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  41. "Bolivia proyecta comprar armamento ruso por varios millones de dólares". May 22, 2009 – via elpais.com.
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  45. "Embajada de Bolivia".
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Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

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