Relationship dossier
Bolivia
United States
Relationship assessment
A relationship marked by diplomatic repair and cooperation alongside recurring disputes over sovereignty and counternarcotics policy.
Bolivia toward United States
-35Bolivia expelled U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg in 2008, ended the Drug Enforcement Administration's operations in the country, and expelled USAID in 2013. A 2011 framework agreement later provided for renewed diplomatic relations, though tensions over U.S. influence have recurred.
United States toward Bolivia
-25The United States suspended Bolivia's trade benefits under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act in 2008 and repeatedly criticized Bolivia's counternarcotics cooperation. The two governments pursued a 2011 framework agreement to restore diplomatic relations.
Overall relationship
-30The relationship has included practical efforts to maintain diplomatic and development ties, including a 2011 framework agreement, but repeated disputes over sovereignty, U.S. influence, trade preferences, and counternarcotics policy have prevented a consistently cooperative partnership.
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–United States relations have combined periodic diplomatic and development cooperation with recurring disputes over sovereignty, counternarcotics policy, and political influence. Bolivia expelled the U.S. ambassador in 2008 and later expelled the Drug Enforcement Administration and USAID. A bilateral framework agreement in 2011 sought to restore diplomatic ties, but relations have remained politically sensitive.
Areas of tension
- Bolivia's expulsion of the U.S. ambassador in 2008
- Bolivia's termination of DEA operations and expulsion of USAID
- Disputes over counternarcotics cooperation and U.S. assessments of Bolivia's performance
- Suspension of Bolivia's U.S. trade preferences under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act
Key developments
Bolivia expelled U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg amid accusations of interference.
Bolivia ended the Drug Enforcement Administration's operations in the country.
Bolivia and the United States signed a framework agreement intended to restore diplomatic relations.
Bolivia expelled USAID from the country.
The United States suspended Bolivia's trade benefits under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of cooperation under the 2011 bilateral framework are unclear.
- The scope of current counternarcotics and development cooperation is uncertain.