The new Bolivian Government announced the end of the strategic relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran and confirmed that the country will resume diplomatic relations with Israel. This is a historic change after years of alignment with Tehran and two years of rupture with Jerusalem.
Bolivia had cut ties with Israel in November 2023, during the government of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), in protest against the operations in Gaza. Since then, the relationship has remained frozen.
The arrival of the new government marks a complete shift: it breaks off the relationship with Iran and reopens the formal channel with Israel.
The relationship with Iran: years of opacity and international tension
The Bolivia–Iran relationship was one of the most controversial points of Bolivian foreign policy during the MAS era. Since 2007, both countries have signed "cooperation" agreements in energy, defense, strategic industries, and security. Several of those agreements were criticized for their lack of transparency and for the geopolitical impact they caused in the region.
In 2023, Israel's ambassador to Bolivia publicly warned about the possible presence of activities linked to terrorism by Iran and Hezbollah on Bolivian territory. The MAS government denied it, but the warning increased international pressure on the country.
The new government of right-wing Rodrigo Paz decided to completely distance itself from that agenda and end the alliance with Tehran. So far, the technical details of the rupture have not been disclosed, but the political decision has been confirmed: Bolivia is leaving behind its rapprochement with the Iranian regime.
Return to the relationship with Israel
Meanwhile, Israel publicly confirmed that Bolivia communicated its intention to reestablish diplomatic relations. The news was reported by regional media and, according to international coverage, Jerusalem is preparing to reopen the formal channel that was closed in 2023.
