Bolivia traditionally has maintained normal diplomatic relations with all hemispheric states except Chile. Foreign relations are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by the Chancellor of Bolivia, Rogelio Mayta.
Overview Relations with Chile, strained since Bolivia's defeat in the War of the Pacific (1879–1883) and its loss of the coastal province of Atacama, were severed from 1962 to 1975 in a dispute over the use of the waters of the Lauca River. Relations were resumed in 1975 but broken again in 1978 over the inability of the two countries to reach an agreement that solved the Atacama border dispute, which might have granted Bolivia a sovereign access to the sea. In the 1960s, relations with Cuba were broken by the Bolivian dictatorship following Castro's rise to power but resumed under the Paz Estenssoro Administration in 1985, which came to power through democratic elections.
Bolivia pursues a foreign policy with a heavy economic component. Bolivia has become more active in the Organization of American States (OAS), the Rio Group, and in MERCOSUR, with which it signed an association agreement in 1996. Bolivia promotes its policies on sustainable development and the empowerment of indigenous people.
Bolivia is a member of the United Nations and some of its specialized agencies and related programs; OAS; Andean Community; Intelsat; Non-Aligned Movement; International Parliamentary Union; Latin American Integration Association ALADI; World Trade Organization; Rio Treaty; Rio Group; and Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia (URUPABOL, restarted in 1993). As an outgrowth of the 1994 Summit of the Americas, Bolivia hosted a hemispheric summit conference on sustainable development in December 1996. A First Ladies' hemispheric summit was also hosted by Bolivia that same month.
The GeGaLo Index of gains and losses after energy transition ranks Bolivia 128th out of 156 countries. It is thus among the countries that will lose strength on the international stage if a global transition to renewable energy is carried out and there is no longer demand for Bolivian oil and gas. It is estimated to experience the third largest loss of all Latin American countries (after Colombia and Venezuela).
United Nations involvement
Bolivia, being one of the founding members of the United Nations, has frequently been involved with the Intergovernmental Organisation. In November 2008, the Bolivian contingent of UN peacekeeping troops with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was relocated to safety, as at least one other regional state was also reviewing its own mission's security. The country had a detachment of 130 soldiers that was working in Bukavu, but was moved to a location near Goma. Bolivia currently serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, with a two-year term ending in 2018. While a member of the Security Council, Bolivia strongly criticized United States President Donald Trump's decision to move the United States' Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and called for a public meeting of the Security Council to respond to the decision. The Bolivian delegation also joined Russia in casting a negative vote for the renewal of the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism in Syria, citing technical concerns about the Mechanism.
During the United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1, on March 2, 2022, Bolivia voted to abstain, along with 34 other nations.
International disputes Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights.
Since the accession of Carlos Mesa to the Presidency, Bolivia has pressed its demands for a corridor to the Pacific. In March 2004, Mesa announced that the government would stage a series of public rallies across the country and in Bolivian embassies abroad in remembrance of those who died in the War of the Pacific, and to call for Chile to grant Bolivia a seacoast. Mesa made this demand a cornerstone of his administration's policy.
President Evo Morales maintained a hard position on this issue of which the symbolic importance is underlined by the fact that Bolivia also still has a navy, despite it not currently having access to the sea. In October 2018, the ICJ (International Court of Justice), ruled against Bolivia in a case that would determine whether or not Bolivia could force Chile to negotiate access to the sea. However, the ICJ did state that cooperation was desirable if workable solutions are to be found.
Illicit drugs Bolivia is the world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated under cultivation in 1999, a 45% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1998 levels; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the United States and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Bolivia maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate12345678910111213—141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243—4445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123—124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150Unknown151Unknown
Bilateral relations Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes21 October 1987Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 October 1987.
In November 2017, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo paid an official visit to Bolivia becoming the first African head-of-state to ever visit Bolivia.13 August 2008See Bolivia–Libya relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 August 2008.26 June 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 June 1964 Bolivia is accredited to Morocco through its embassy in Madrid, Spain. Morocco is accredited to Bolivia, through its embassy in Lima, Peru.Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 November 1982 which were suspended by Bolivia on 24 February 2026.1967See Bolivia–South Africa relations Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1967 when has been accredited first Ambassador of South Africa to Bolivia (resident in Argentina).
Bolivia maintains an honorary consulate in Johannesburg.
Americas
Country Formal Relations BeganNotes7 December 1858See Argentina–Bolivia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 December 1858.
Argentina has an embassy in La Paz and a consulate-general in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and consulates in Tarija, Cochabamba, Villazón and Yacuiba. Bolivia has an embassy in Buenos Aires and consulates in Córdoba, Jujuy, La Quiaca, Mendoza, Orán, Pocito, Rosario, Salta and Viedma.See Bolivia–Brazil relations
Brazil and Bolivia worked on expanding and diversifying trade between the two countries in the last quarter of 2008. The 6th Meeting of the Commission for Monitoring Brazil-Bolivia trade was used to this end. As it stood, at the time Brazil was the main destination for exports from Bolivia, having bought, in 2007, 35.7% of the products that Bolivian companies sell to other countries. They were also the main exporter to Bolivia, sending 24.7% of products imported into Bolivia. As industrialized products represented 94.6% of Brazilian sales up to September of the year, Bolivian sales in the same period were limited largely to natural gas, which accounted for up to 92.7% of the total purchased from the country, or US$1.89 billion. The products with the greatest scope for an increase in trade from Brazil to Bolivia were crude oil, insecticides, aircraft, vehicle engines, soy in grain, vegetable oils and ironworks products, amongst others. From Bolivia to Brazil, products such as animal feed, vegetable oil, crude oil, tin, ores of precious metals, precious gems, dried and fresh fruit, plants, leather and garments were also capable of seeing sales grow.http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2775227.html Bolivia has an embassy in Brasília, consulates in Cáceres, Corumbá, Epitaciolândia, Guajará-Mirim and consulates-general in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Brazil has an embassy in La Paz, consulate in Puerto Quijarro and consulates-general in Cobija, Cochabamba, Guayaramerín and Santa Cruz de la Sierra.1978, Diplomatic severed in 1978, Restored in 2002See Bolivia–Chile relations
Bolivia and Chile have had strained relations ever since independence in the early 19th century because of the Atacama border dispute. Relations soured even more after Bolivia lost its coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific and became a landlocked country (Bolivia still claims a corridor to the Pacific Ocean.) Chile and Bolivia have maintained only consular relations since 1978 when territorial negotiations failed. Bolivia has consulates-general in Santiago and Arica and consulates in Antofagasta, Calama and Iquique.Consulate-General of Bolivia in Santiago (in Spanish) Chile has consulates-general in La Paz and in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.10 June 1915See Bolivia–Cuba relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 June 1915.
Bolivia has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in La Paz.21 November 1831See Bolivia–Mexico relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 November 1831.
Bolivia has an embassy in Mexico City. Mexico has an embassy in La Paz.6 July 1955Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 July 1955 when has been appointed Ambassador of Nicaragua to Argentina, Doctor Otto Lamm Jarquin as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Bolivia.
Relations between Bolivia and Nicaragua have improved since the election of Daniel Ortega. In 2007, President Evo Morales stated that "Daniel Ortega's win gives strength and hope not only to Nicaragua but to all of Latin America." Both countries are members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA). Bolivia has an embassy in Managua. Nicaragua has an embassy in La Paz.28 August 1942Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 August 1942. Bolivia has an embassy in Panama City. Panama has an embassy in La Paz.17 June 1843See Bolivia–Paraguay relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 June 1843.
In 2009, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which led to a war in the 1930s. President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries" Bolivia has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in La Paz, a consulate-general in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and a consulate in Villamontes.24 June 1826See Bolivia–Peru relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1826
Bolivia has an embassy in Lima and consulates in Cusco, Ilo, Puno and Tacna. Peru has an embassy in La Paz and consulates-general in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra.3 January 1849See Bolivia–United States relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 January 1849.
Bolivia traditionally has had strong ties to the United States. Economically, the United States has been a long-standing consumer of Bolivian exports and a partner in development projects. In 1991 the United States forgave more than US$350 million owed by Bolivia to the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Presently, the United States leads an international contingent pressuring Bolivia to curb its illegal drug trade.