June 1, 2026.
Bolivian political leader Christian Velasco denounces U.S. interference in Bolivia’s internal affairs and rejects the policy of surrendering Bolivia’s natural resources—especially lithium—in exchange for military security for the ruling elites. “We want to denounce that our country is being held hostage by the U.S. and that there is serious interference in the affairs of Bolivians,” stated Velasco.
According to the leader, military attachés from the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Southern Command are instructing Bolivia’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces to suppress protests and social mobilizations. “Military personnel from U.S. Southern Command are telling the Bolivian Armed Forces’ military command how to intervene in roadblocks, marches, and protests,” he stated. Additionally, there are allegations of infrastructure being installed for the purpose of spying on the population. Telecommunications antennas located in Cochabamba and La Paz have reportedly been tapped to monitor communications and data traffic of citizens participating in demonstrations. He also noted that the Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Mining met with U.S. officials to negotiate the handover of strategic resources. Finally, he denounces that aircraft entering the country under the pretext of transporting humanitarian aid are allegedly transporting U.S. military personnel. “We denounce that they are using flights with supposed humanitarian aid to bring in U.S. military personnel who are coming to massacre the Bolivian people,” he stated.