Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed support for Bolivia's constitutional government.
- The US warned against narco-terrorist dominance and attempts to overthrow democratically elected leaders.
- Protests in Bolivia are linked to economic inflation, rising fuel prices, and a controversial land reform bill.
- Former President Evo Morales called for early elections.
- US increased emergency assistance to Bolivia for food and medical shortages.
The United States is increasing emergency assistance to Bolivia to address food and medical shortages amid weeks of social unrest and warnings of a coup d'état. Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated the US commitment to supporting President Rodrigo Paz Pereira's constitutional government, warning against narco-terrorist dominance and the overthrow of democratically elected leaders. War Secretary Pete Hegseth also stated the US rejects attempts to overthrow the government and will support partners like Bolivia to deter narco-terrorists. The protests in Bolivia stem from economic inflation, surging fuel prices after subsidy cuts, and a land reform bill that Indigenous farmers claim puts them at risk of eviction. Former President Evo Morales has called for early elections, while the Trump administration has suggested drug traffickers are inciting the unrest. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the protests as a coup financed by an alliance between politics and organized crime. Bolivian Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas resigned amid the turmoil.