“For the first time in 15 or 20 years, the vast majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere are now led by pro-U.S. leaders and governments since President [Donald] Trump was elected,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a recent cabinet meeting. This includes Bolivia with the election of Rodrigo Paz in October 2025.
But recent anti-government demonstrations have put the newly-elected government at risk. Indeed, Bolivian prosecutors recently issued an arrest warrant for former socialist president Evo Morales, accusing him of fomenting these demonstrations.
At the invitation of the Bolivian government, several members of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States recently travelled to La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. At the end of the visit, the governments of the United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay issued a joint statement: “While we respect the right to peaceful protest, we are deeply concerned by the impact of violent blockades on the lives of Bolivian citizens, democracy, and the rule of law in Bolivia. The continued efforts to undermine and overthrow the legitimate and democratically elected government of President Rodrigo Paz represent a serious threat to constitutional order and democratic stability in the country and our hemisphere.”
A minority acting outside the law attempted to disregard the will expressed by the majority of Bolivians at the polls, rejected the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue, and maintained road blockades for more than seven weeks, depriving the Bolivian people of food, health care, and other necessities such as fuel. These actions severely affected the daily lives of millions of citizens and put fundamental rights at risk, the statement said.
Bolivians died due to restrictions on free transit, which prevented them from accessing medicines, hospitals, or health centers in a timely manner. Protesters also injured police officers. For any democracy to function, violence cannot subvert the constitutional order, the statement added.
The government of Bolivia has been willing to engage in dialogue in order to reach agreements. The joint statement expressed “solidarity and support” for the constitutionally elected Bolivian government and “urge[d] the prioritization of dialogue and negotiations within the established constitutional framework as a fundamental tool of democracy.” The joint statement called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Defending freedom, democracy, and hemispheric security requires commitment and cooperation. The United States and fellow signatories reaffirm a commitment to strengthen stability and preserve the democratic order in the region and stand in solidarity with the democratic government and people of Bolivia. Now is time for peaceful coexistence through consensus-building and dialogue.