Bolivia and US Sign $20M Deal to Combat Drug Trafficking

Bolivia and the US have signed a $20 million deal to combat drug trafficking, marking a shift in relations after nearly two decades. The agreement includes training and equipment support and aligns Bolivia with the US-led Shield of the Americas security initiative.

Bolivia and US Agree on Anti-Drug Cooperation

Bolivia has announced the signing of a new cooperation agreement with the United States aimed at combating drug trafficking. According to Bolivia's foreign ministry, the agreement involves the US providing up to $20 million (£15 million) to train and equip Bolivian forces as part of a collaborative effort to fight drug smuggling.

Cancillería Bolivia A man in a suit and glasses, with short dark hair, holds the arms of a woman wearing a shirt and suit jacket and glasses, in front of the American and Bolivian flags. — The move is a change of Bolivian policy from the past nearly two decades

This agreement marks a significant shift in relations between the two countries, coming 18 years after then-President Evo Morales expelled the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from Bolivia. Bolivia is recognized as the world's third-largest producer of coca, the raw material used to manufacture cocaine.

/Claudia Morales Bolivian soldiers destroy coca plants as part of an eradication programme of surplus coca leaf, as the country resumes operational cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after a 17-year absence, in a move that the government says is part of a broader, multinational strategy to combat organised crime. The soldiers, in uniform, can be seen pulling up the plants. — Bolivia is the world's third-largest producer of coca, the raw material used to make cocaine

Bolivia Joins US-Led Security Initiative

Under the leadership of the new centrist president, Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia has become a member of the Shield of the Americas, a US-led security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. AFP news agency reported that the US embassy confirmed the United States will collaborate closely with the Bolivian government to provide training, equipment, and other forms of support. The BBC has reached out to the embassy for further comment.

The Bolivian foreign affairs ministry stated that the purpose of the agreement is to strengthen institutions responsible for public security, criminal investigations, and combating organized crime within Bolivia.

Recent Political and Security Developments

The agreement was signed in La Paz less than two weeks after President Paz appointed Ernesto Justiniano, the country's "drug czar," as the new defence minister. In March, President Paz participated in the inaugural Shield of the Americas summit held in Florida, which was hosted by US President Donald Trump and attended by 12 other regional leaders.

The countries involved in this alliance have expressed strong support for President Paz amid a series of anti-government protests. On 21 May, they issued a joint statement declaring that they

"stand with the government of Bolivia"

and voiced

"deep concern with the protests and road blockades aimed at subverting the constitutional order and destabilising the democratically elected government"

Focus on Combating Narco-Terrorism

Despite the political context, the coalition's primary objective remains the fight against "narco-terrorism." As part of his commitment to preventing drugs from reaching the United States, President Trump has authorized US forces to target vessels suspected of smuggling illicit substances.

Since early September, more than 200 individuals have been killed in US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Some legal experts have raised concerns that these strikes may violate international law.

In the most recent incident, which US Southern Command (Southcom) reported occurred on a Tuesday, one man aboard the targeted vessel was killed while two others survived. Southcom stated that