US To Send Ambassador To Bolivia After 12-Year Hiatus - Embassy

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 22, 2020 | 02:47 PM

The US authorities are considering sending an ambassador to Bolivia as a part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations after a 12-year hiatus, the US embassy in Bolivia said after US Undersecretary of State David Hale met with Bolivia's interim president, Jeanine Anez

LA PAZ (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2020) The US authorities are considering sending an ambassador to Bolivia as a part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations after a 12-year hiatus, the US embassy in Bolivia said after US Undersecretary of State David Hale met with Bolivia's interim president, Jeanine Anez.

In September 2008, then-Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled US ambassador Philip Goldberg for allegedly promoting separatist movements in the country. In response, the United States expelled the Bolivian ambassador and called the allegations against Goldberg groundless.

"Undersecretary of State [David] Hale announced the United States' decision to move forward on the exchange of ambassadors with Bolivia, taking into account new opportunities that have opened up to strengthen bilateral relations," the statement said.

On November 10, Morales stepped down from his fourth term in office and fled to Mexico amid mass protests that resulted from a contentious election victory earlier in the year. Most of Bolivia's senior government officials also resigned.

The Senate's second vice speaker, opposition lawmaker Anez, declared herself interim president of Bolivia.

Shortly after coming to power, Bolivia's interim government appointed Walter Oscar Serrate Cuellar as the country's first ambassador to the United States in 11 years.

The US has strongly supported Bolivia's current interim government, and President Donald Trump announced on January 7 that he was removing restrictions on foreign aid to the South American country.