US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 28 posted on social media that the US military 'will reject any effort to overthrow the constitutional government' of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz. Hegseth implied that the protesters — largely teachers, miners, farmers and union workers — are colluding with 'narcoterrorists,' a term the Trump administration uses for drug traffickers.
'America is watching. Bolivia must not be allowed to slip back into the old status quo of narcoterrorist domination in the region,' Hegseth wrote.
The message is the latest sign that the Trump administration plans to continue playing an active role in Latin American politics and security. Since returning for a second term in 2025, Trump has outlined an expansionist agenda, with his administration describing the entire Western Hemisphere as a 'neighborhood' that needs to be controlled.
'This is OUR hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened,' the US State Department posted on social media in January. The Trump administration has also designated numerous Latin American criminal networks as 'terrorist' organizations.
Earlier this year, Trump launched a security initiative called the Americas Anti-Cartel Alliance (A3C), under the umbrella of the Americas Shield, aimed at bringing together right-wing governments in the region to cooperate on crime and security issues. President Paz was among the leaders who attended the first A3C summit in March.
Domestically, Paz’s government has faced difficulties from the start. He won the presidential runoff election last October, ending nearly two decades of rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). His administration quickly restored relations with the United States, which had been severed in 2008 over disagreements on a hardline anti-drug policy.
Bolivia is the world’s third-largest producer of coca — the raw material for cocaine — but the crop is also used in traditional medicine and Andean rituals. Coca farmers’ unions remain a powerful political force in the country.
Some of Paz’s early moves have alarmed this voter bloc. In May, the government was forced to withdraw a land reform law, Ley 1720, which farmers feared would allow their small plots to be consolidated into larger holdings. Paz’s decision to end fuel subsidies also sparked backlash, raising gasoline prices. Bolivia’s economy has been in turmoil for years, with foreign exchange reserves and natural gas exports declining.
Since May, protesters have flooded streets across Bolivia, blocking roads and clashing with law enforcement. Some demonstrators have called on Paz to resign, but administration officials have ruled out that possibility. Facing public unrest, Paz reshuffled his cabinet and pledged to cut his salary by 50%.
On May 27, Bolivia’s legislature authorized the military to crack down on protesters to clear blockades, but the demonstrations continue. The Trump administration, which has encouraged Latin American governments to take tougher measures against drugs, has voiced support for Paz.
'We will continue to support A3C partners like Bolivia to ensure that narcoterrorists are prevented from profiting from death and destruction in our hemisphere,' Hegseth said.
