Bolivia’s mounting security challenge is emerging as one of the first real-world tests of President Donald Trump’s Shield of the Americas, the country’s defense minister told Fox News Digital, as security forces deploy to strategic locations and the government braces for renewed unrest."I believe this is one of the first real tests of whether Shield of the Americas can move from declarations to concrete results," Bolivian Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.But Justiniano stressed that Bolivia is not declaring that a coup attempt is underway."I am not saying today that we have proven evidence of a specific operation currently underway to overthrow the President," he said.
"What we do have are very serious precedents and warning signs that justify preventive action."Trump launched Shield of the Americas at a March summit in Florida, bringing together governments across the Western Hemisphere to deepen economic and security cooperation, including efforts to combat transnational crime.TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER'S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATIONPresident Donald Trump, center, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, second from left, Argentina's President Javier Milei, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz and Chile's President-elect Jose Antonio Kast pose for a family photo during the Shield of the Americas" Summit in Doral, Fla., on Saturday, March 7, 2026.(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)Justiniano's comments come as President Rodrigo Paz’s government attempts to prevent a repeat of more than 50 days of road blockades earlier this year that caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine and deepened the country’s economic crisis.
On Sept.17, Bolivia’s Assembly approved a 90-day extension of the country’s state of emergency, citing persistent risks of renewed blocka...