Bolivia

Economics

Energy

The Bolivian government announced the discovery of a ''megawell'' with 1.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the western department of La Paz, Reuters reported July 15.

Bolivia: Major Gas Discovery To Only Partially Alleviate Economic Crisis

Military & Security

Politics

Bolivia's Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga was arrested in La Paz after deploying army soldiers to storm the presidential palace in a failed coup attempt hours earlier, Reuters reported on June 26.

Bolivia: Political Instability and Economic Crisis To Persist After Failed Coup Attempt

Bolivian soldiers gathered in the central Plaza Murillo in La Paz and stormed the presidential palace, after which President Luis Arce accused recently dismissed Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga of launching an attempted coup against the government, Reuters reported on June 26.

Bolivia: President Denounces Military Coup Attempt

Argentina

Belize

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Cuba

Honduras

Mexico

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Venezuela

The leaders of Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela met virtually and agreed to take steps to facilitate commercial trade, La Jornada reported April 5.

Latin America: Left-Wing Governments Ally to Reduce Food Inflation

Bolivian opposition leader and Santa Cruz Gov. Luis Fernando Camacho was arrested Dec. 28 for refusing to testify in an ongoing case relating to the 2019 political crisis in Bolivia, Deutsche Welle reported Dec. 28.

Bolivia: Governor of Agricultural Hub Arrested

Workers in the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz initiated an indefinite strike in an effort to pressure the government into moving the national census forward from 2024, El Pais reported Oct. 22.

Bolivia: Agricultural Hub Santa Cruz Launches Indefinite Strike

Security

Security Challenges in Latin America

Bolivian opposition groups continued their strike against controversial money laundering law 1386 on Nov. 14 despite Bolivian President Luis Arce’s proposal to repeal the law, Deutsche Welle reported Nov. 15.

Bolivia: Opposition Strike Continues Despite Proposed Repeal of Law 1386

The candidates from Bolivia’s Movement for Socialism (MAS) party lost all four gubernatorial races in La Paz, Tarija, Pando and Chuquisaca during the second round of elections, Deutsche Welle reported April 11, citing preliminary results. 

Bolivia: MAS Party Candidates Lose in Four Governor Races 

Snapshots

Paraguay

Uruguay

An illustrated map shows Mercosur countries.

Stalled trade deals and dwindling intra-bloc commerce will leave the South American trade bloc in a deadlock, likely resulting in only minor rule changes to prevent Mercosur's dissolution.

Mercosur's Latest Meeting Highlights Its Growing Stagnation

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2nd from left) participates in the 10th congress of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party on Oct. 4, 2023. 

Global Elections

The dispute over who will be the ruling party's 2025 presidential candidate is unlikely to ease anytime soon, portending more political gridlock, economic uncertainty and violent unrest.

A Rift at the Helm of Bolivia's Government Paves the Way for More Instability

Assessments

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Peru

Palestinian Territories

China

France

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

(From left to right) The presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia pose for photographs during the annual Mercosur leadership summit on Dec. 7, 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The addition of Bolivia's small market will yield limited economic gains for the South American trade bloc, and may ultimately result in more internal disputes and challenges due to the country's political turbulence and poor environmental record.

For Mercosur, Bolivia's Accession May Bring More Headaches Than Benefits

El Salvador

United States

Israel

People attend a rally in support of Israel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 22, 2023. 

Social Issues

Anger over the conflict could temporarily strain Israel and the U.S.'s relations with left-wing governments in the region, while countries with large Jewish or Arab populations may see more security-related incidents.

Latin America's Response to the Israel-Hamas War 

Germany

Chilean President Gabriel Boric (right) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) pose after holding a joint press conference at the Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago, Chile, on Jan. 29, 2023. 

To reduce its reliance on Chinese-made batteries, Germany is seeking to increase its presence in Latin America's ''Lithium Triangle.''

In Search of Lithium, Germany Eyes Partnerships With Chile and Argentina

Guidance

Uganda

Ecuador

Japan

Philippines

South Korea

Iran

Turkey

India

A motorist passes a sign for the 8th Congress of the Cuban Communist Party on April 6, 2021, in Havana. The Party will convene April 16-19 against the backdrop of broader Cuban discontent over a deteriorating economic situation,

U.S.-Iran Relations

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended Stratfor articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Economic Data From China and More Indirect U.S.-Iran Talks

Ghana

Senegal

Hong Kong SAR, China

Protesters fight gendarmes on March 5, 2021, near their barracks in the Colobane neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, during clashes following the arrest of the main opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko. Sonko will face a court hearing on March 8 related to rape charges against him that Sonko and his supporters claim are entirely political.

The Weekly Rundown: The Mainland Seeks More Control Over Hong Kong, a Possible Senegalese Crackdown

Americas

A member of the airport police stands guard as a forklift unloads a container full of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from a plane in Ezeiza, Argentina, on Jan. 16, 2021. 

COVID-19

The delays will likely lead to further social unrest, economic strain and anti-government sentiment in countries across the region. 


Russia Delays Vaccine Shipments, Stalling Latin America’s Inoculation Efforts

Bolivia's president-elect, Luis Arce, celebrates his electoral victory during a rally in El Alto, Bolivia on Oct. 24, 2020. 

Arce’s administration will struggle to garner the political support and foreign investment needed to revive the country’s pandemic-rattled economy.

A Tall Order Awaits Bolivia’s New President

Media

Podcasts

In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from Stratfor, a RANE company, a conversation about crossroads. In the next three weeks, the Americas will experience three significant elections: The U.S. presidential election, a referendum to decide whether Chile will draft a new constitution, and a general election in Bolivia to elect a new president and congress.

Essential Geopolitics: The Americas at the Crossroads

Columns

On Security

Russia

Russian and Venezuelan defense ministers meet in Moscow. 

Cyber

Russia's Internal Struggle

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

As it seeks to counter U.S. interests in Latin America, Russia is turning to an old playbook. But instead of arming Marxist groups with weapons, this time Moscow's arming anti-government protesters with rhetoric.

Could There Be a Cold War Reboot in Latin America?

Bolivia is a landlocked country that borders five South American countries: Chile to the west, Brazil to the east, Peru to the north and Argentina and Paraguay to the south. Bolivia's lack of sea access poses a major geographical challenge, as the country struggles to integrate itself into the global economy. As a result, Bolivia's major trade partners are its neighbors, Brazil and Argentina.     Bolivia's history is full of major territorial defeats. The country lost its sea access to Chile after the War of the Pacific, which was fought from 1879 to 1884. Bolivia has also suffered territorial losses to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru. While the country has settled its border disputes with most of these countries, it still claims the territory it lost to Chile. Every Bolivian administration has prioritized attempts to gain access to the Pacific Ocean.     Bolivia is extremely divided geographically and ethnically; the Andes mountains divide the   country's lowlands and highlands, making it one of the most politically unstable countries in South America. The highlands are predominantly made up of indigenous groups, mostly the Aymara and Quechua peoples, while lowlands residents are mostly Mestizo. The core of Bolivia's highlands is the La Paz metropolitan area, where the city of El Alto is also located. The core of Bolivia's lowlands is Santa Cruz, which is the country's richest department.     The disconnect between the highlands and lowlands has resulted in strong regionalism in the country. Political groups from the more developed departments located in the lowlands, where most of Bolivia's agricultural and natural gas production take place, have historically demanded more autonomy from the central political authority located in La Paz. 

SITUATION REPORTS

Bolivia: Major Gas Discovery To Only Partially Alleviate Economic Crisis

Bolivia: Political Instability and Economic Crisis To Persist After Failed Coup Attempt

Bolivia: President Denounces Military Coup Attempt

Latin America: Left-Wing Governments Ally to Reduce Food Inflation

Bolivia: Governor of Agricultural Hub Arrested

Bolivia: Agricultural Hub Santa Cruz Launches Indefinite Strike

Bolivia: Opposition Strike Continues Despite Proposed Repeal of Law 1386

Bolivia: MAS Party Candidates Lose in Four Governor Races

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