Bolivia–Mexico relations

Bolivia–Mexico relations

Bolivia
Mexico

Bolivia–Mexico relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the United Mexican States. Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, Organization of Ibero-American States and the United Nations.

History of diplomatic relations

Historically, both countries were part of the Spanish Empire until the early 19th century. Mexico was part of Viceroyalty of New Spain while Bolivia was at first part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and then in 1776, it became part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Soon after independence, both nations established diplomatic relations. In 1831, Mexico sent its first concurrent ambassador to Bolivia based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In September 1902, the first Mexican consulate-general was opened in La Paz and thus the first official diplomatic mission of Mexico in the country. In 1934, Bolivia opened its first diplomatic mission in Mexico City. In February 1939, both diplomatic missions were elevated to embassies in each other's capitals, respectively.[1]

Between 1964-1982, Bolivia was ruled by a military junta.[2] During this time period, diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Mexico became tense. Between 1967 and 1980, the Mexican embassy in La Paz provided asylum to 260 Bolivian citizens during that time period. The most prominent asylee at the embassy was Dr. Antonio Arguedas Mendieta, a Bolivian national and former Minister of the Interior who in 1968 arranged for copies of Che Guevara's captured diaries to be smuggled to Havana, Cuba after his death in Bolivia in October 1967. When the government of President René Barrientos discovered the documents to be missing, it was discovered that Dr. Arguedas Mendieta was a CIA agent who had been recruited to destroy Che Guevara's forces in the country, but he was soon to become disenchanted with the Bolivian government and decided to send Guevara's diaries to Cuba. Dr. Arguedas Mendieta was accused by the Bolivian State for selling state secrets and in July 1969, Dr. Arguedas Mendieta sought asylum in the Mexican embassy where he remained until May 1970 when he was granted safe-conduct out of Bolivia to Mexico.[3]

In 1960, Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos had planned to visit Bolivia, however, his visit was suspended by force majeure.[4] In 1990, President Carlos Salinas de Gortari became the first Mexican head of state to pay an official visit to Bolivia.[5]

State visits

Bolivian President Evo Morales in Mexico City; 2010

Presidential visits from Bolivia to Mexico[6][7][8][9]

Presidential visits from Mexico to Bolivia[10][11]

Trade

In September 1994, a free trade agreement was signed between the two nations. Since its implementation in January 1995, trade between the two nations increased by 266%. In 2014, bilateral trade between Bolivia and Mexico amounted to $252 million USD.[12][13] In June 2010, Bolivian President Evo Morales cancelled the free trade agreement with Mexico.[14]

Resident diplomatic missions

References

  1. ↑ History of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Bolivia (in Spanish)
  2. ↑ BBC: Victims of Bolivian military rule 'erased from history'
  3. ↑ The Guardian: Maverick Bolivian linked to the repression of Che Guevara's guerrillas and publication of his diaries
  4. ↑ President Adolfo López Mateos cancels visit to Bolivia (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ History of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Bolivia (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ Presidente De La República De Bolivia, En Su Visita A México, Víctor Paz Estenssoro (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de Bolivia (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ President Jorge Quiroga attending the Monterrey Consensus in 2002 (in Spanish)
  9. ↑ Evo Morales promueve en México la creación de una OEA sin Estados Unidos (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ El Presidente Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, realizó una visita de Estado a la República de Bolivia (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ Vicente Fox inicia visita oficial a Bolivia (in Spanish)
  12. ↑ Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Bolivia (in Spanish)
  13. ↑ IV REUNIÓN DE LA COMISIÓN BINACIONAL PERMANENTE MÉXICO-BOLIVIA (in Spanish)
  14. ↑ CNN: Bolivia elimina TLC con México (in Spanish)
  15. ↑ Embassy of Bolivia in Mexico City (in Spanish)
  16. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in La Paz (Spanish)
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