The administration of United States President Donald Trump has issued a statement appearing to characterise the anti-government protests in Bolivia as an attempted coup against the country’s right-wing president.On Thursday, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth posted on social media that the US military establishment would “reject all attempts to overthrow the legitimate government” of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listHe then proceeded to suggest that the protesters — many of whom are teachers, miners, farmers and union workers — are in league with “narco-terrorists”, the Trump administration’s term for drug traffickers.“The United States is watching. Bolivia must not allow itself to fall prey to the old status quo of narco-terrorist dominance in the region,” Hegseth wrote.The message was the latest indication that the Trump administration plans to continue taking an active role in Latin American politics and security.Since returning to the presidency for a second term in 2025, Trump has outlined an expansionist plan for the US, and his administration has described the entire Western Hemisphere as its “neighbourhood” to patrol.“This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened,” the State Department posted in January.The Trump administration has also designated multiple criminal networks in Latin America as “terrorist” organisations.Earlier this year, Trump established a security initiative called the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), under the umbrella of the Shiel …
