The Governments of Iran and Bolivia have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand on that bilateral cooperation in the field of security and defense, as reported by the Persian state agency IRNA. The agreement was signed in Tehran by Bolivian Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo Aguilar and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Reza Ashtiani.
The document was criticized by members of the Bolivian opposition, that they regret that Luis Arce’s government is maintaining the rapprochement with Iran initiated under the mandate of former President Evo Morales.
The new security agreement It was not discussed in detail and both parties assure that a cooperation is sought Combating drug trafficking and strengthening border surveillance. He Iranian minister He said the pact includes the sale of arms and training of personnel.
“Given Bolivia’s critical needs regarding Defense of borders and fight against drug trafficking“We will actively build partnerships in teams and expertise with this country,” Ashtiani said.
He in turn Minister Novillo assured that his government is “interested and ready to cooperate with Iran”. not only in terms of security, but also “in the scientific, defense and security sectors,” according to Bolivian media reports.
The agreement sparked criticism and concern Bolivian opponentswho sent a petition to the government on Monday to report on the scope of the agreement.
“The secretary of defense needs to explain the deal and explain why it was signed with a complicated country.” on the international stage when Bolivia is constitutionally pacifist” Gustavo Aliaga, secretary of the Defense and Armed Forces Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, told The Associated Press.
“I only know what the press publishes. He says that (Iran) will give us drones. Others say they will give us rockets. “It all sounds strange, especially when it’s related to Iran,” Aliaga said. “I don’t understand why Bolivia enters into a complex and difficult relationship,” Aliaga said.
Concern arose when the Institute for War Studies (ISW) assumed that the GThe Tehran government will offer its drones to the La Paz authorities.
In a report, the organization specializing in military issues justified its suspicion Before signing the agreement, the Iranian minister assured that the military industry his country is ready to offer Bolivia “advanced technology”.
The ISW also recalled that Persian drones were used for border surveillance in many countries. In 2022, a senior Iranian official assured that 22 countries had already deployed their drones, including Venezuela.