The foreign ministers of both countries reestablished the relationship in Washington
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Israel and Bolivia took a significant step toward the full normalization of their bilateral ties by signing a Joint Communiqué in Washington, D.C. to reestablish diplomatic relations after fifteen years of discontinuity.
The event was led by Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa'ar, and his Bolivian counterpart, Fernando Aramayo, with the participation of Bolivia's Minister of Economy and Finance, José Gabriel Espinoza.
Sa'ar described the meeting as "warm and emotional", emphasizing that both countries share a historic friendship interrupted since 2009, except for a brief restoration in 2020. "Today we are putting an end to an unnecessary chapter of separation between our two nations", he stated.
The Israeli foreign minister explained that the political shift in Bolivia, following the election of President Rodrigo Paz, opened the door to rebuild ties. According to his account, he contacted Paz a day after his electoral victory, conveying Israel's willingness to "open a new chapter."
Israel also sent a high-ranking representative to the inauguration ceremony of the new president last November 8.
The signed agreement establishes the full return of ambassadors "within a reasonable time", as well as a commitment to maintain ongoing dialogue on bilateral, regional, and multilateral matters.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his Bolivian counterpart Fernando Aramayo
Both parties exchanged invitations for official visits and business missions, aiming to identify new areas of cooperation.
Sa'ar highlighted that Israel is willing to support the Bolivian government in fields where it can provide proven expertise, such as water resource management, agriculture, health, innovation, security, and the fight against organized crime and narco-terrorism.
He specifically noted the participation of Mashav, Israel's development cooperation agency, in agricultural projects that could bring immediate benefits to Bolivia.
The minister also emphasized the historical background that unites both countries. He recalled that Bolivia was one of the few states that opened its doors to Jewish refugees during World War II and supported the creation of the State of Israel in the 1947 UN vote.
"Our nations enjoyed decades of warm relations and mutual respect", he said.
Another element that will facilitate rapprochement is the recent decision by the Bolivian government to eliminate the visa requirement for Israeli tourists, a measure that, according to Sa'ar, will once again boost the flow of travelers and strengthen "the human bridge" between both societies.
In his final statement, the Israeli foreign minister emphasized that this diplomatic restoration is taking place in close coordination with the United States, and that strengthening ties with Latin America is one of his priorities for 2026. "I know we will achieve great things together", he concluded.
With the signing of the agreement, Israel and Bolivia are opening a new era of renewed cooperation, with expectations of mutual benefits and a clear message of stability and understanding in a time of political change in the region.
