World

US says it is ramping up emergency assistance in Bolivia amid protests

By Reuters Reuters

Updated June 5, 2026 1:33 AM

Law enforcement officers use tear gas on demonstrators during a march calling for the resignation of Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz, as the country's economic and fuel crisis worsens due to a shortage of U.S. dollars and falling domestic energy production, in La Paz, Bolivia May 18, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Morales — Law enforcement officers use tear gas on demonstrators during a march calling for the resignation of Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz, as the country's economic and fuel crisis worsens due to a shortage of U.S. dollars and falling domestic energy production, in La Paz, Bolivia May 18, 2026. REUTERS/Claudia Morales Claudia Morales Reuters

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-PREVIEW:48000:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-STREAM:22.050:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-STREAM:48000:M4A aac

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-STREAM:48000:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-STREAM:48000:WAV wav

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA624405062026RP1-STREAM:48000M:WAV wav

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP624405062026RP1-BASEIMAGE:960X540 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP624405062026RP1-THUMBNAIL:160X90 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP624405062026RP1-THUMBNAILGRID jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP624405062026RP1-VIEWIMAGE:512X288 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:1756:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:2000:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:5128:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:700:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:8256:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:8256M:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:CLOSEDCAPTION:SRT srt

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:CLOSEDCAPTION:VTT vtt

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV624405062026RP1-STREAM:SHOTLIST:JSON json

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:13756:16X9:HD1080I50:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:13756:16X9:HD1080I60:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:1756:16X9:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:2128:16X9:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:SD525I30:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:SD625I25:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-THUMBNAILGRID jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD624405062026RP1-VIEWIMAGE:768X432 jpegBaseline

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz in a call on Thursday that the Trump administration was ramping up emergency assistance and support to help with food and medical shortages amid weeks of social unrest and mass protests in the South American country, the department said.

"Rubio reaffirmed that the Trump Administration will continue to stand with Bolivia as it works toward stability, security, and a better future for all Bolivians," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

(Reporting by Christian Martinez in Los Angeles; Writing by Ismail Shakil; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 12:59 AM.