US-Bolivia Resume Counternarcotics Cooperation
Analysis based on 10 articles · First reported Feb 13, 2026 · Last updated Feb 13, 2026
The resumption of counternarcotics cooperation between the United States and Bolivia is expected to improve regional stability and potentially reduce the illicit drug trade, which could have a positive long-term impact on the economies of both nations. This also signals a shift in Bolivia's foreign policy, potentially opening up new investment and trade opportunities with Western countries.
The United States has resumed intelligence coordination on counternarcotics efforts with Bolivia, nearly 20 years after former President Evo Morales expelled U.S. anti-drug agents. Bolivia's Vice Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances, Ernesto Justiniano, confirmed that the United States===Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has started sharing information and assisting with vetting and training Bolivian law enforcement. This move comes as Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz restores full diplomatic relations with Washington, reversing nearly two decades of Bolivia shunning the West in favor of countries like China and Russia. Experts view the DEA's return as a significant foreign policy achievement for the U.S. in Latin America, aiming to combat drug trafficking and enhance regional security. The details of the DEA's renewed presence are still being finalized, with sensitivities remaining regarding past U.S. intervention in coca-growing regions.
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