In September, President Joe Biden labeled Bolivia as a major drug producer for 2024. This marks the 16th year the U.S. has done this.
Bolivia’s President, Luis Arce, claims it’s political. Bolivia’s leading party, MAS, accuses the U.S. of interference.
They feel the U.S. has been biased since Evo Morales took office in 2006. Morales expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in 2008.
The drug fight then shifted to Bolivian hands.
Economist Diego Giacoman views the U.S. move as political. He recalls to Sputnik the 2008 expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg.
Goldberg was charged with dividing Bolivia. The U.S. memo also cites countries like Belize, Colombia, and the Bahamas.
Asian nations like China and Afghanistan are on it too. Bolivia’s Government Minister, Eduardo del Castillo, opposes the memo.
He believes it lacks evidence and breaches international norms. Opposition leader Carlos Mesa highlights drug corruption in Bolivia.
Bolivia permits coca farming for medicine and rituals. UN data shows Bolivia had 30,500 hectares of coca farms in 2021.
Giacoman finds Bolivia’s situation consistent over the years. He believes the drug problem needs a broader perspective.
He argues for more research funding, not just enforcement.
Background Coca Cultivation Bolivia
Bolivia’s coca cultivation is traditional. The U.S. sees it mainly as a drug concern. This perspective difference causes disputes.
The discord over coca isn’t recent. It’s been a point of contention since the 1961 UN drug convention.
Bolivia left the treaty in 2012 but rejoined with coca-related reservations.
Bolivia-U.S. relations are intricate, encompassing more than just drugs. Some Bolivians view U.S. actions as necessary, others as interference.
A tailored approach to drug policies might be more effective.