US Defense Secretary Warns Against Overthrow of Bolivian President Amid Protests Over Economic Reforms

U.S. military establishment would reject all attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz.

Hegseth wrote that the United States is watching and that Bolivia must not allow itself to fall prey to the old status quo of narco-terrorist dominance in the region. U.S. will continue to support A3C partners like Bolivia to ensure that narco-terrorists are deterred from profiting on death and destruction in the hemisphere.

The Trump administration issued a statement appearing to characterise anti-government protests in Bolivia as an attempted coup against Paz, a right-wing president elected in the October 2025 run-off that ended nearly two decades of governance by the Movement for Socialism.

Paz restored diplomatic ties with the United States after they were severed in 2008. Bolivia is the third-largest producer of coca.

Paz attended the inaugural summit of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition in March 2026; President Trump established the coalition earlier in 2026 under the Shield of the Americas to bring together right-wing governments on crime and security issues. Since May 2026 protesters have blockaded roadways and clashed with law enforcement. Some demonstrators have called for Paz’s resignation.

In response, Paz reshuffled his cabinet and pledged to take a 50-percent pay cut. On 27 May 2026 Bolivia’s legislature voted to allow the military to deploy against protesters. Paz’s government revoked land-reform law Ley 1720 in May 2026 after farmers objected that it could convert small plots into larger holdings.

His decision to remove fuel subsidies also raised petrol prices. The State Department posted in January that this is OUR Hemisphere and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened.