Relationship dossier
Bolivia
Russia
Relationship assessment
Bolivia–Russia ties include nuclear and lithium cooperation, alongside political alignment on some international issues.
Bolivia toward Russia
+35Bolivian governments have pursued cooperation with Russia in nuclear technology and lithium development. Bolivia also abstained on United Nations resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, avoiding a direct diplomatic rebuke.
Russia toward Bolivia
+35Russia has pursued bilateral nuclear cooperation with Bolivia, including support for a nuclear research and technology center in El Alto, and Russian-linked companies have negotiated lithium development projects with Bolivia's state lithium company.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship has a sustained practical basis in nuclear cooperation and proposed Russian participation in Bolivia's lithium sector, alongside some political alignment in international forums. The breadth and implementation of economic cooperation remain uncertain, and the durability of policy across political changes in Bolivia is not clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Bolivia and Russia have pursued practical cooperation in nuclear technology and lithium development. Bolivia has also taken positions at the United Nations that have avoided condemning Russia over the war in Ukraine. These ties reflect meaningful cooperation, though the scope and implementation of major projects and the continuity of policy across changes of government are uncertain.
Key developments
Bolivia and Russia signed an agreement for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
A Russian-backed nuclear research and technology center began development in El Alto as part of bilateral nuclear cooperation.
Bolivia's state lithium company and a subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom signed an agreement concerning lithium extraction and development.
Major uncertainties
- The extent to which announced Russian-backed lithium projects have been implemented is unclear.
- The continuity of Bolivia's approach to Russia across changes of government is uncertain.