US, Shield of the Americas condemn 'ongoing efforts' to overthrow Bolivia's elected president amid unrest

The United States, on pinch nan different countries that dress up nan Shield of the Americas, condemned nan "ongoing efforts" successful Bolivia to "overthrow nan legitimately and overwhelmingly elected" authorities of President Rodrigo Paz connected Friday.

"The personnel countries of Shield of nan Americas denounce ongoing efforts to overthrow nan legitimately and overwhelmingly elected authorities of President Rodrigo Paz successful Bolivia," nan connection read. "We guidelines pinch Paz’s antiauthoritarian authorities arsenic it fights backmost against attempts to resistance Bolivia backwards done cynical efforts to forestall nan transportation of food, medicine and different captious supplies to nan Bolivian group done clone roadworthy blockades."

The connection added that "Mob norm cannot switch nan determination that a mostly of Bolivians made astatine nan ballot container to move nan page connected 2 decades of corrupt governments."

It besides said that anyone who is backing protests pinch "dirty money" from drug trafficking and transnational crime "should beryllium held accountable. Those who person morganatic grievances should return advantage of nan government’s willingness to dialogue, and denounce those who would maltreatment their causes to regain power."

PETE HEGSETH WARNS NARCO-TERRORISTS AS U.S. BACKS BOLIVIA'S GOVERNMENT AMID COUP WARNINGS

Demonstrators march successful La Paz, Bolivia, connected May 20, 2026, rallying against roadworthy blockades and unit strategies utilized by protesters demanding nan resignation of President Rodrigo Paz amid nan country's economical and substance crisis. (Claudia Morales/Reuters)

The State Department made nan associated connection on pinch Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The connection comes arsenic Bolivia's capital, La Paz, has been rocked by weeks of societal unrest arsenic mass protests person blocked streets successful awesome cities amid economical ostentation and rising substance prices.

Bolivian Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas resigned Tuesday.

Upon taking office, Paz supported a onshore reform measure to boost agribusiness that Indigenous farmers said put them astatine consequence of eviction. He further scrapped substance subsidies, sending prices surging by astir 90%. Motorists complained that nan gasoline was contaminated and ruined their cars.

PETE HEGSETH MAKES HOMELAND SECURITY TOP MISSION IN FIRST INTERVIEW AS SECRETARY OF WAR

The Trump management has said supplier traffickers are responsible for inciting nan wide unrest.

Meanwhile, erstwhile President Evo Morales of nan Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, nan country's first Indigenous president who ruled for an unprecedented 14 years, is calling for early elections. "Paz only has 2 paths left: a suicidal determination for illustration militarization aliases ... an predetermination successful nan adjacent 90 days," he wrote connected X.

Police officers fired tear state astatine organization members who seized nan Humberto Suarez lipid installation during protests calling for President Rodrigo Paz's resignation successful Santa Rosa del Sara, Bolivia, connected June 3, 2026. The protests person caused substance and nutrient shortages. (Ipa Ibanez/Reuters)

For almost 2 years now, Morales has been hiding retired successful Bolivia's cardinal coca-growing Chapare region, evading an apprehension warrant connected human trafficking charges relating to allegedly having activity pinch a 15-year-old girl. He rejects nan allegations arsenic politically motivated.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz delivers a reside successful La Paz connected June 3, 2026, aft naming Ernesto Justiniano arsenic defense curate pursuing nan resignation of Marcelo Salinas amid protests. (Claudia Morales/Reuters)

On Thursday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said successful a station connected X, that nan War Department and nan Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), a precocious established multinational subject and governmental alliance, cull each attempts to overthrow nan authorities of Rodrigo Paz Pereira six months into his term.

Bolivia's erstwhile President Evo Morales greets a personnel of nan country's anti-drugs forces successful Santa Cruz state adjacent nan Paraguay separator connected March 28, 2009. T (Stringer/Reuters)

"The United States is watching. Bolivia must not let itself to autumn prey to nan aged position quo of narco-terrorist power successful nan region," Hegseth wrote. "We will proceed to support our A3C partners for illustration Bolivia to guarantee that narco-terrorists are deterred from profiting connected decease and demolition successful our hemisphere."

Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.