Recently inaugurated Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz swiftly restored full diplomatic relations with the United States within the first hours of his administration, marking the end of a 17-year rupture caused by the leftist Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, Breitbart reports. Paz, a moderate Christian Democratic Party senator, assumed office on Sunday, ending two decades of MAS rule under Evo Morales and Luis Arce, characterized by anti-U.S. policies and alliances with authoritarian regimes such as Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Iran.
Before taking office, Paz visited Washington seeking support from international institutions to address Bolivia’s dire economic crisis stemming from prolonged socialist mismanagement. He also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed commitment to a strong partnership between the countries based on mutual prosperity.
The inauguration in La Paz was attended by several regional political figures, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, and Uruguay’s Yamandú Orsi. Milei, who also inherited an economy suffering under socialism, shared advice with Paz, who welcomed the guidance. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau led the U.S. delegation, calling the event “the most emotional” of his career due to the long estrangement between the two countries.
During the inauguration press conference, Paz announced the reestablishment of ambassador-level diplomatic relations, a move warmly supported by Landau and signaling a new era of cooperation. Under Morales, the U.S. ambassador was expelled, and the DEA was forced to cease operations in Bolivia amid accusations of interference and spying. Diplomatic ties had been partially restored in 2011 but remained strained.
President Paz emphasized Bolivia’s devastated economy and declared an end to failed ideologies that led to rampant inflation, shortages, debt, and corruption. He questioned how the country, rich in resources such as natural gas and lithium, ended up with widespread poverty and hunger. MAS was decisively defeated in recent elections, with Paz’s victory seen as a transformative opportunity for Bolivia to reintegrate into the global community and rebuild its economy with international cooperation and investments.