US denounces attempted 'coup' in Bolivia amid strikes
The United States decried the growing unrest in Bolivia as an attempted “coup,” after left-wing strikers and militias allied with former left-wing President Evo Morales paralyzed the country.
TL;DR
- The U.S. has characterized the unrest in Bolivia as an attempted "coup" by left-wing groups allied with former President Evo Morales.
- President Rodrigo Paz faces a critical crisis with nationwide strikes and blockades paralyzing the country, hindering emergency services and medical supplies.
- The U.S. government, through Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, has publicly supported Paz's constitutional government, rejecting the "mob rule."
- Washington's stance reflects a potentially more hands-on approach in Latin America, influenced by Bolivia's vast lithium reserves.
- Bolivia's current economic crisis is linked to past mismanagement under Morales's socialist administration, with lingering effects on the nation's finances.
- Argentina's President Javier Milei has provided humanitarian aid to Bolivia, while Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has voiced support for the anti-government forces.
- The situation in Bolivia is seen as a potential first test for the "Shield of the Americas," a U.S.-led alliance of right-wing governments.