Argentina, the USA, and eleven other countries from the Shield of the Americas expressed their support for the right-wing president and rejected the coup attempt driven by the former dictator, Evo Morales.
From Washington, the administration of Donald Trump has moved to direct action. Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated to President Rodrigo Paz a substantial increase in humanitarian and logistical assistance to break the siege caused by sectors aligned with former socialist president Evo Morales. The State Department denounced that these “illegal blockades” seek to destabilize Bolivian society.
For his part, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent a warning message to the enemies of democracy: “The Pentagon and the Shield of the Americas reject all attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of President Rodrigo Paz. Bolivia must not allow itself to fall prey to the old narcoterrorist domination status quo in the region”.
The situation in Bolivia, which began on May 6, has resulted in a tragic toll of 10 dead, of which 7 died due to lack of access to medical care because of roadblocks. The blockades have caused millions in losses and shortages in key cities such as La Paz and El Alto.
However, the firmness of the government of Rodrigo Paz, backed by the “Shield of the Americas”, is already yielding operational victories. Under the command of Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano, security forces executed a successful operation in the Río Abajo region, clearing 37 kilometers of roads that were blocked with stones, logs, and tires. This strategic advance allows for the restoration of food flow to the capital and marks the beginning of the end for the siege imposed by the radical groups of the old regime.
The regional scenario has taken a definitive turn towards security and institutionality. On June 5, the member countries of the “Shield of the Americas” —comprising Argentina, United States, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago— issued a strong joint statement. In the document, the governments condemned “the ongoing efforts to overthrow the legitimate and widely elected government of President Rodrigo Paz in Bolivia”.
The coalition was relentless in pointing out that roadblocks are not social protests, but rather “cynical efforts aimed at preventing the distribution of food, medicine, and other essential supplies”. Furthermore, the official statement warns that destabilizing groups will not be able to bend the will of the majority of Bolivians who chose to leave behind “two decades of corrupt governments”, emphasizing that the financiers of these uprisings, linked to drug trafficking, must be held accountable before the law.
In line with the vision of Javier Milei, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno used his social media to clarify the position of the Casa Rosada. “We support a new regional declaration in support of Bolivia within the framework of the Shield of the Americas, reaffirming our commitment to democracy, institutional stability, and constitutional order”, the diplomat expressed.
Quirno emphasized that Argentina's support will not be limited to rhetoric: “We will continue to support, with words and actions, the Bolivian people and their democratically elected authorities against any attempt at destabilization and all forms of violence or intimidation”. According to the foreign minister, the defense of freedom requires close cooperation with regional partners to preserve democratic order in the hemisphere.
