5 minWorld
Bolivia Deploys Security Forces as Trump's Shield of the Americas Faces First Test
Bolivia's defense minister says the country's crackdown on renewed unrest is an early test of whether President Trump's Shield of the Americas can deliver concrete results, as police and troops deploy to strategic routes and the government extends a state of emergency.
Bolivia has begun a preventive deployment of police and military forces across strategic parts of the country, a move its defense minister describes as one of the first real-world tests of President Donald Trump's Shield of the Americas initiative.
Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano said the security operation is aimed at preventing a repeat of more than 50 days of road blockades earlier this year that caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine and deepened Bolivia's economic crisis. He said the deployment is concentrated along strategic routes, access points to major cities and locations considered sensitive for freedom of movement, supply lines and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Justiniano declined to provide exact locations, troop numbers or unit movements, saying the scale of the deployment would change according to the level of risk. He stressed that Bolivia is not declaring that a coup attempt is underway.
«I am not saying today that we have proven evidence of a specific operation currently underway to overthrow the President,» Justiniano said. «What we do have are very serious precedents and warning signs that justify preventive action.»
The comments come as President Rodrigo Paz's government tries to head off renewed unrest. On Sept. 17, Bolivia's Assembly approved a 90-day extension of the country's state of emergency, citing persistent risks of renewed blockades. Some opposition lawmakers and social groups criticized the measure, arguing it failed to address the underlying causes of the unrest.
Trump launched Shield of the Americas at a March summit in Florida, bringing together governments across the Western Hemisphere to deepen economic and security cooperation, including efforts to combat transnational crime. The White House has described the initiative as an alliance focused on economic and national security in the hemisphere.
The unfolding situation comes just days after Trump hosted leaders participating in Shield of the Americas on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22.
A U.S. official said Washington remains committed to supporting Bolivia's democracy and the Paz administration as it rebuilds the country. «The United States is unwavering in its commitment to support Bolivia's democracy and the Paz Administration as it rebuilds the country after 20 years of failed socialist policies,» the official said. «The Trump Administration will continue to stand with Bolivia as it works toward stability, security, and a better future for all Bolivians.»
A State Department spokesperson said the United States values its close partnership with Bolivia, a Shield of the Americas participant, to advance economic growth and address security challenges posed by corruption and transnational crime. The spokesperson said Paz survived 53 days of blockades and violent attempts to undermine his presidency, and voiced support for his administration's work to repair Bolivia's economy after more than 20 years of management by the Movement towards Socialism party of former President Evo Morales.
The State Department also said visa restrictions announced Sept. 28 targeted Bolivian nationals whom Washington says are undermining the security and governance progress of the Paz administration, adding that the actions reinforce cooperation rather than undercut it. The Trump administration revoked visas for 27 officials, former officials and relatives across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, according to the Associated Press. Among those affected was Bolivian Prosecutor General Roger Mariaca, whom the State Department accused of corruption and facilitating narcotrafficking. Mariaca has rejected the allegations.
Justiniano said Bolivia has formally requested the information underlying the U.S. action, calling the case of the prosecutor general particularly serious because Washington has publicly made specific allegations involving corruption and the facilitation of drug trafficking. But he cautioned against drawing a direct connection between those affected by the visa restrictions and the current unrest.
«It would be irresponsible for me to automatically state that everyone affected by those measures is connected to the current mobilizations,» he said. «We do not have public evidence that would justify that generalization.»
Asked what assistance Washington is providing in response to the current threat, Justiniano declined to say whether the United States was supplying operational intelligence or other support.
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