ISC This Month

  Latin American Research and Study Group: Meeting with the Bolivian Embassy

For February’s Latin American Research and Study Group we had a meeting with the Bolivian Embassy to learn more about Bolivia’s fight to get access to the sea. Ambassador Guadalupe Palomeque explains how Bolivia, in the past, had access to the sea. It was only after losing the Pacific war with Chile that Bolivia became a landlocked country. Afterwards, Chile and Bolivia engaged in negotiations over Bolivia’s maritime sovereignty. Despite the multiple promises by Chile to provide Bolivia with access to the sea, diplomatic negotiations have been severed. The presidents of the US, Argentina, Venezuela, Spain have all supported Bolivia’s claims to access to the sea. Various regional organizations such as the Organization of American states have supported Bolivia’s claims. March 23 was designated as the Day of the Sea for Bolivia. They are currently seeking support from governments and civil society around their claims.