Bolivia’s foreign policy has taken a dramatic turn as its new right-wing government announced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel. This move, which comes after a two-year freeze, marks a significant shift for the South American nation that was once among the most vocal critics of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.
Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Washington, where both officials signed a declaration to revive bilateral ties. According to the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries will soon reinstate ambassadors and send officials on reciprocal visits. The ministry described the rapprochement as “a return to trust, intelligent cooperation and the ties that have always existed, but which are now being revitalized with a modern perspective.”
This diplomatic about-face is part of a broader foreign policy realignment under Bolivia’s new conservative President Rodrigo Paz. Paz, who took office in November 2025, has moved quickly to reverse nearly two decades of anti-Western policies that left Bolivia economically isolated and diplomatically aligned with China, Russia, and Venezuela. The Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, founded by Evo Morales, had dominated Bolivia’s political landscape since 2006, steering the country on a distinctly left-wing, anti-U.S. path.
One of the first tangible steps taken by Paz’s administration was the easing of visa restrictions on American and Israeli travelers, a change that took effect in early December 2025. Aramayo and Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza also launched a series of meetings with American officials in Washington this week, signaling a clear intent to thaw relations with the United States and shift Bolivia’s international alliances.
Israeli Foreign Minister Saar expressed gratitude for these moves. In a statement following his meeting with Aramayo, Saar thanked Bolivia for scrapping Israeli visa controls. He also revealed that he spoke with President Paz after his October 19, 2025, election victory, expressing “Israel’s desire to open a new chapter” in relations with Bolivia.
The restoration of diplomatic ties with Israel is particularly notable given Bolivia’s recent history. After Morales became Bolivia’s first Indigenous president in 2006, he expelled Israel’s ambassador and cozied up to Iran, united by their shared opposition to the United States and Israel. Morales’ government severed relations with Israel, a stance that was briefly reversed when an interim right-wing government took over following Morales’ disputed 2019 reelection and subsequent resignation under military pressure. The interim government quickly restored full diplomatic relations with both the U.S. and Israel, seeking to undo many of Morales’ popular—but controversial—policies.
However, the MAS party returned to power in the 2020 elections under President Luis Arce, who in 2023 once again cut ties with Israel in protest over its military actions in Gaza. This move was echoed by other left-wing governments in the region, including Chile and Colombia, which recalled their ambassadors and joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel before the United Nations’ highest judicial body.
The latest shift under President Paz is thus a clear departure from the MAS party’s approach. According to the Associated Press, the Bolivian Foreign Ministry framed the new relationship as a pragmatic step forward: “The rapprochement represents a return to trust, intelligent cooperation and the ties that have always existed, but which are now being revitalized with a modern perspective.”
For many observers, the speed and decisiveness of Paz’s foreign policy changes are striking. Within weeks of taking office, his administration not only restored ties with Israel but also moved to improve relations with the United States. The meetings in Washington between Aramayo, Espinoza, and American officials are part of a broader strategy to unravel the legacy of economic isolation that characterized Bolivia’s years under MAS rule.
Bolivia’s shifting alliances reflect broader currents in Latin American politics. The region has seen a pendulum swing between left-wing and right-wing governments over the past two decades, each bringing its own approach to foreign relations. Morales’ alignment with countries like Iran, Russia, and China was emblematic of a broader leftist push against U.S. influence in the hemisphere. By contrast, Paz’s government appears determined to re-engage with Western nations, seeking economic opportunities and diplomatic partnerships that had been neglected or even actively shunned by his predecessors.
The decision to restore ties with Israel comes at a time when the Middle East remains a flashpoint of international concern, particularly over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Bolivia’s previous break in relations was explicitly linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, a stance that resonated with other left-leaning governments in the region. By re-establishing diplomatic channels, Paz’s administration is signaling a willingness to engage with all sides and pursue what it describes as “intelligent cooperation.”
The move has not gone unnoticed internationally. Israeli Foreign Minister Saar’s outreach to Paz following the latter’s election underscores Israel’s interest in rebuilding bridges in Latin America, a region where it has faced growing criticism in recent years. For Bolivia, the benefits may be both diplomatic and economic, as renewed ties with Israel and the United States could open doors to investment, trade, and technical cooperation.
Of course, such a dramatic policy shift is not without controversy at home. The MAS party, which still commands a significant base of support, has long positioned itself as a champion of anti-imperialism and solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Critics of the Paz administration may view the restoration of ties with Israel as a betrayal of these principles. However, supporters argue that Bolivia’s previous isolation came at too high a cost, limiting the country’s economic prospects and leaving it out of key international conversations.
As Bolivia prepares to reinstate ambassadors and send delegations to Israel and the United States, the country stands at a crossroads. Will this new chapter bring the prosperity and international engagement that Paz promises, or will it deepen domestic divisions over the country’s identity and role in the world? Only time will tell, but for now, Bolivia’s foreign policy is unmistakably on a new path.
Bolivia’s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Israel marks not just a shift in foreign policy, but a signal to the world that the country is ready to re-engage, rebuild, and redefine its place on the global stage.
