Bolivia signs $20m deal with US to fight drug trafficking, foreign ministry says

June 17, 2026

Bolivia and the United States have reached a new cooperation agreement focused on combating drug trafficking, with the US pledging up to $20 million to train and equip Bolivian security forces. This agreement marks a significant shift in relations between the two countries, coming eighteen years after former President Evo Morales expelled American drug enforcement agents from Bolivia, which ranks as the world's third-largest coca producer. Under new centrist President Rodrigo Paz, Bolivia has joined the US-led Shield of the Americas security initiative and is receiving international support amid domestic protests challenging his government.

Who is affected

Bolivian forces receiving training and equipment
The Bolivian government under President Rodrigo Paz
Bolivian institutions responsible for public security, criminal investigations, and fighting organized crime
Anti-government protesters in Bolivia
More than 200 people killed in US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific
Individuals on vessels targeted in recent strikes (one killed, two survivors in the most recent Tuesday strike)
The 12 regional countries that are part of the Shield of the Americas alliance

What action is being taken

The US is providing training, equipment, and support to Bolivian forces under the new agreement
US forces are targeting vessels alleged to be smuggling illicit substances
Shield of the Americas member countries are providing backing for President Paz during protests
Anti-government protests and road blockades are ongoing in Bolivia

Why it matters

This agreement represents a major diplomatic shift after nearly two decades of strained US-Bolivia relations and signals Bolivia's reintegration into US-led regional security frameworks. The cooperation is significant given Bolivia's status as the world's third-largest coca producer, making it a crucial partner in US drug interdiction efforts. The deal also has broader geopolitical implications as it strengthens the Shield of the Americas alliance and demonstrates US influence in the region, though the accompanying naval strikes raise serious questions about international law and human rights.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC