US, 11 Shield Nations Condemn Bid to Oust Bolivia's Paz as Unrest Chokes Supplies
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 5
US, 11 Shield Nations Condemn Bid to Oust Bolivia's Paz as Unrest Chokes Supplies
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 5
Summary
A joint statement from the US and 11 other Shield of the Americas countries denounced what it called ongoing efforts to overthrow President Rodrigo Paz, backing his government against protest blockades.
The bloc said the roadblocks are obstructing food, medicine and other vital supplies, and urged Bolivians with legitimate grievances to pursue dialogue instead of attempts to force Paz from office.
Weeks of unrest in La Paz and other cities have been driven by inflation, rising fuel prices and Paz's decision to scrap fuel subsidies, which sent prices up nearly 90% and deepened shortages.
Washington has blamed drug traffickers for helping incite the turmoil, while former President Evo Morales has demanded elections within 90 days even as he remains holed up in Chapare fighting human-trafficking charges he denies.
The statement broadens US support voiced a day earlier by War Secretary Pete Hegseth and underscores a regional effort to keep Bolivia's crisis from sliding into a wider anti-government rupture.