In a speech marking the 198th anniversary of Bolivia’s independence, President Luis Arce warned that his nation is at risk from “foreign ambition” that seeks to exploit its natural resources and calls for unity to combat this threat.
Arce, speaking at the legislative assembly session in Bolivia’s constitutional capital, Sucre, highlighted the country’s historical fight for independence leading to its 2009 reformation into a Plurinational State.
He noted that all may not favor steps toward resource recovery and independent foreign policy.
He warned that Bolivia’s ambitions for what he termed as the “second and final independence” are threatened by similar issues that led to the loss of territory in wars with neighboring countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Bolivia today is again threatened by foreign ambition for our natural wealth. Divided and confronted among Bolivians, we could again become easy prey to interests alien to the homeland,” Arce said.
Arce also defended his government’s move towards blocs like the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in light of the “irreversible march towards a multipolar world”.
He reiterated some of his administration’s economic achievements, including recovery to pre-COVID-19 economic levels, reduced unemployment and extreme poverty, and controlled inflation.
He also acknowledged ongoing challenges like corruption, drug trafficking, and violence against women and children and promised to continue to battle these issues.