Bolivia

Fabiana Justiniano and Scarlett Rocha achieved a historic milestone in Bolivia. They became the first same-sex couple in the country to legally marry.

Bolivia and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement for a US$1.9 billion 36-month Extended Fund Facility on 29 July 2026. The deal requires approval from the IMF’s Executive Board and Bolivia’s Congress before funds are disbursed.

Bolivia has deployed over 200 police and military officers to patrol its border with Brazil in response to gang violence. Footage shows the Bolivian forces conducting border operations.

The Brazilian Air Force intercepted a suspect aircraft that entered its airspace from Bolivia without authorization, forcing an emergency landing before the occupants fled.

The Santa Cruz departmental prosecutor's office issued an arrest order against former president Evo Morales for his alleged role in road blockades that paralyzed parts of Bolivia for 53 days in May and June.

Evo Morales is defiant following a new arrest warrant in Bolivia. He is under investigation for armed uprising against the state.

A Bolivia prosecutor has ordered the arrest of ex-leader Evo Morales in connection with protests. Morales was present at a meeting before the 2025 presidential runoff election in Cochabamba.

Lithium miners and the LIT ETF declined as investors reacted to reduced EV-battery demand, Chile's new lithium policy, and supply risks in Argentina and Bolivia.

President Rodrigo Paz announced Bolivia secured US$300 million from multilateral lenders for a highway in La Paz department's Los Yungas region, electrical integration in the Amazon, and police modernization.

Presidents from Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, and Ecuador are attending Keiko Fujimori's inauguration in Lima for Peru's 2026-2031 presidential term. The event brings together Southern Cone and Andean leaders for the handover ceremony.

Bolivia's Cumbre Nacional Minera 2026 proposed creating a specialized 'Sala Minera' tribunal within the ordinary justice system. The summit aimed to gather consensus for a new mining code to replace outdated sector regulations.

Bolivia's National Mining Summit concluded with proposals for a specialized mining tribunal and a new legal framework to attract investment and combat illegal mining operations.

Latin American domestic sports leagues in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay resumed this weekend following the 2026 World Cup break. The update was published by The Rio Times.

Bolivia paid more in external debt service than it received in fresh loans during the first half of 2026, resulting in a $67 million shortfall. This financial strain is exacerbating a dollar-liquidity crisis, prompting the government to consider IMF support and additional multilateral loans.

Brazil implements a US$3.7B tariff shield, while Bolivia faces a 11-to-1 dollar exchange rate crisis. Latin America navigates global economic strategies and local challenges on July 25, 2026.

Bolivia's floating dollar rate has fallen below 11 bolivianos per US dollar, the lowest since the end of a 15-year fixed exchange rate in June 2026 via Ministerial Resolution 245. Economy Minister Gabriel Espinoza mentioned the IMF program on July 22.

Bolivia's Minister of the Presidency José Luis Lupo called an IMF agreement 'indispensable' as the country's foreign exchange crisis worsens. Bolivia is negotiating a US$3.3 billion package, likely an Extended Fund Facility, with foreign exchange reserves falling to US$2.3 billion by October 2025.

The US has publicly endorsed Bolivia's reform package aimed at attracting international investment, while an official report reveals 15 state-owned enterprises have accumulated losses exceeding 5.1 billion bolivianos. Washington's support for President Rodrigo Paz's reforms in December 2025 highlights efforts to open Bolivia to foreign investment.

Laboratory tests confirmed no cocaine was found in Bolivian timber held in Chile and Brazil. Chilean prosecutors closed the case as a false positive, prompting exporters to seek compensation.

Bolivia is considering recognizing USDT to address a dollar shortage, while Bitcoin miners' AI projects are under new investor scrutiny.

Bolivia is considering integrating Tether's USDT stablecoin into its national payments system, as reported by a local source. The USDT is described as the largest dollar-backed stablecoin.

Bolivia is considering a framework to recognize USDT, the world's largest stablecoin, for payments, savings, and trade amid pressure on foreign currency reserves. The move aims to address a dollar shortage by leveraging the stablecoin's utility.

Bolivia aims to recover approximately $4 billion in cash held outside its banking system by assuring that new dollar deposits will not be frozen. The government is promoting this policy to encourage funds to return to banks.

Bolivia’s hydrocarbons minister Marcelo Blanco announced technical working groups with Petrobras to discuss exploration, production, transport, refining, and marketing. Petrobras already operates in Bolivia under service contracts in areas like San Alberto, San Antonio, Itaú, and San Telmo Norte.

Bolivia plans to transition from a fixed exchange rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar, maintained since 2011, to a market-determined floating system by 2026. The current fixed rate is no longer sustainable due to insufficient reserves, and a parallel informal exchange rate already exists.

Bolivia faces severe fuel shortages, road blockades, and the worst inflation in about four decades. Blockades disrupting food and fuel supply to major cities are pushing prices higher, driven by dwindling gas revenue and a dollar shortage. President Rodrigo is navigating the crisis.

Bolivia Congress passed President Paz’s reworked 2026 budget, aiming to reduce the fiscal deficit to nine percent of output. The plan includes waiving import duties and value-added tax for five years.

The World Bank established an Andean Countries Division to oversee $9 billion in active lending across Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Ariel Yepez was appointed as the division's director, effective July 1.

Bolivia will reduce import tariffs by five percentage points across all tariff schedules starting July 6, 2023, under Supreme Decree 5646, which remains in effect until the end of 2027. The government stated this measure aims to protect consumers amid challenges posed by a weaker currency.

Bolivia has deployed troops and bulldozers to reopen roads under a 90-day emergency decree after a 50-day blockade caused critical shortages of food, fuel, and medicine in cities.

Bolivia transitioned to a floating exchange rate on June 29, 2026, ending a 2011 peg of 6.96 bolivianos to the dollar. The new rate opened at 9.73 bolivianos per dollar, marking a 40% depreciation.

Brazil set a record with value surpassing technology, Argentina's cabinet chief resigned, and Bolivia terminated its dollar peg. The article was published by The Rio Times.

Bolivia ended its dollar peg on June 26, adopting a flexible exchange rate. The previous fixed rate of 6.96 bolivianos per dollar since 2011 was replaced with a new rate of 9.73, resulting in a 30% devaluation.

Venezuela experienced powerful twin earthquakes causing damage and injuries. Colombia's next president, Abelardo de la Espriella, was declared the winner of the presidential runoff. Bolivia's Andean New Year celebration marked a return to normality after road blockades.

Latin America has experienced a rightward political shift, with right-leaning leaders elected or installed in several countries. Chile's José Antonio Kast and Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz are in office, while Colombia's de la Espriella and Peru's Keiko Fujimori are presidents-elect. Argentina's Javier Milei is part of this trend, aligning the region with Washington.

Bolivia has transitioned to a flexible exchange-rate system after 15 years. The Central Bank of Bolivia in La Paz is involved in this change.

Brazil signed a plan to route exports west to Pacific ports via a land corridor crossing Bolivia from its farm belt, aiming to provide faster, cheaper access to Asian markets, particularly China. Mato Grosso, responsible for about a third of Brazil’s farm output, is leading this initiative.

Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time top scorer with two goals as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory. Colombia's official election count is nearing a Wednesday declaration, and Bolivia's highways are nearly clear again.

Bolivia's Congress approved President Paz’s 90-day state of emergency. Roads reopened with no active protest blockades, while troops have not entered the Chapare region aligned with Evo Morales. A relief flight crashed, and disruptions persist in Chapare.

Colombia faces a contested presidential election with Abelardo de la Espriella leading preliminary results. Bolivia reopens highways amid a ratified state of emergency, while Argentina gains a World Cup qualification opportunity and Mexico City teachers resume classes.