Bolivia signs $20 million anti‑drug partnership with the United States

The government of Bolivia and the United States have signed a cooperation agreement that allocates up to $20 million to train and equip Bolivian security forces in the fight against drug trafficking and related organized crime. The pact, announced on 16 June, includes U.S. provision of training, equipment and assistance for investigations, interdiction and dismantling of international narcotics networks, as well as support for financial‑crime investigations and greater transparency in police and judicial bodies.

The agreement marks a reversal of nearly two decades of strained relations, with President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in November, normalising diplomatic ties and restoring collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. A recent capture of a wanted Uruguayan narcotics suspect by Bolivian police was handed over to U.S. authorities. Representatives from Chile, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador also participated in a meeting in Chile to create a regional plan against organized crime, with further joint reviews scheduled. Bolivia is simultaneously preparing to adopt a floating exchange‑rate regime and is seeking financing from the International Monetary Fund.