(SeaPRwire) –
By: Alistair Kroon, a well-known overseas geopolitical commentator who frequently publishes editorials in mainstream newspapers
The Shield of the Americas’ condemnation of Bolivia’s unrest isn’t just about democracy. It’s a calculated move to prop up President Rodrigo Paz and counter narco-linked groups the US sees as threats.
The official statement says members stand with Paz against fake roadblocks blocking food and medicine. It calls mob rule a threat to ballot box choices. But Paz’s policies have fueled real anger. His land reform risks Indigenous evictions. He cut fuel subsidies, sending prices up nearly 90%. Motorists complain gasoline is contaminated and ruins cars. Bolivia’s Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas resigned Tuesday. The US frames protests as narco-funded to distract from these grievances.
The statement demands accountability for those using drug money to fund protests. It says legitimate grievances should use dialogue. Behind this, former President Evo Morales is pushing for early elections. Morales—Bolivia’s first Indigenous president who ruled 14 years—is in hiding in the Chapare coca-growing region. He faces a human trafficking arrest warrant (alleged sex with a 15-year-old) which he calls political. The US links him to narco-terrorism to justify its A3C alliance support.
The US’s support for Paz isn’t just about Bolivia. It’s an attempt to keep the region from slipping back to what it calls narco-terrorist dominance—securing its geopolitical foothold in the Americas.