Bolivia

Bolivia Expels Colombia's Ambassador Over Petro's Remarks

Is this due to Petro meddling in Bolivia's affairs or is Bolivia applying double standards?

Published MAY 20

Bolivia Expels Colombia's Ambassador Over Petro's Remarks

Story

Above: Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz speaks during press conference in La Paz on May 20. Image credit: Aizar Raldes/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Bolivia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that Colombia's ambassador, Elizabeth García, has been asked to leave the country due to alleged interference in internal affairs, noting that this doesn't represent a break in diplomatic ties.
Agencia Boliviana de Información
EFE Noticias
Reuters
XINHUA
Bolivia's top diplomat, Fernando Aramayo, said that García has been declared persona non grata over what he deemed repeated ill-founded statements from Colombian President Gustavo Petro about the situation on the ground in Bolivia.
El Deber
The Associated Press
El Colombiano
This comes as Petro has described the social unrest in Bolivia as a "popular insurrection" in response to "geopolitical arrogance," taking to social media to offer his government to mediate the crisis while talking about political prisoners and calling for the U.S. not to attack former Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Colombia One
El País
La Razón
Gustavo Petro on X
Gustavo Petro on X
Anti-government protests have been rocking Bolivia for three weeks over a wide range of grievances, including calls for the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz after six months in office. Road blockades have caused shortages of key supplies in the country's administrative capital, La Paz.
EFE Noticias
El Deber
La Silla Vacía
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators across the country, including near the government headquarters in La Paz, have left about a dozen officers injured and resulted in at least 127 arrests.
La Derecha Diario
teleSUR English
A government spokesman said that Morales is fueling protests as Bolivia's leftist leader currently faces a new arrest warrant after failing to appear in court for his trial on human trafficking charges related to an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl while he was in office.
Voz
The Associated Press
El Colombiano
Guardian

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Petro's meddling in Bolivia's internal affairs has cost Colombia a seat at the diplomatic table — again. By cheering on protests and labeling them a popular insurrection, Petro has handed Bolivia every reason to expel Colombia's ambassador. Taking sides in a foreign crisis doesn't make Colombia a peacemaker, but rather part of the problem.

El Tiempo

Tamara Suju on X

Narrative B

Bolivia has expelled Colombia's ambassador while staying silent about U.S., Israeli and Argentine diplomats who back the crackdown on protesters. That selective outrage exposes the Paz government's double standard — meddling only counts when it comes from the left. Petro was right to call out a government that's killing its own people in the streets.