Bolivia–Russia relations

Bolivia–Russia relations (Russian: Российско-боливийские отношения) is the relationship between the two countries, Bolivia and Russia. Russia has an embassy in La Paz, and Bolivia has an embassy in Moscow.

Bolivia–Russia relations

Bolivia
Russia
President Morales meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Kremlin in June 2018.

Country comparison
Bolivia Russia
Population 10,027,254 (2012)[1] 143,800,000 (2014) [2]
Area 1,098,581 km2 (2012)[3] 17,098,242 km2 (2014)[4]
Density 9.13/km2 (2012) 8.33/km2 (2014)
Capital(s) La Paz, Sucre Moscow
Largest city Santa Cruz de la Sierra (1.719 million, 2011)[5] Moscow (11.621 million, 2011)[4]
Government Social unitary state[6] Federation[4]
Official languages Spanish and 36 indigenous languages Russian
Main religion Roman Catholic (79.3%, 1992)[7] Russian Orthodox (15–20%, 2006)[4]
Ethnic groups[8] Quecha (30%), mestizo (30%), Aymara (25%), white (15%) Russian (77.7%), Tatar (3.7%), Ukrainian (1.4%), Bashkir (1.1%), Chuvash (1%), Chechen (1%), other (10.2%), unspecified (3.9%)
GDP $55.7 billion (2013)[9] $2.11 trillion (2013)[4]
Expatriate populations[10] <1,000 (2013) <1,000 (2013)
Military expenditures[11] $445 million (2013) $43.2 billion (2013)

Background

The Soviet Union had established diplomatic relations with Bolivia on April 18, 1945.

Current

With Bolivia the focus on relations with Russia is mainly economic, as opposed to political and strategic, as an agreement to invest in Bolivia's natural gas fields shows. It is seen to "help Latin America...[as it] expands Latin America's economic opportunities, diversifies its relationships...that's healthy."[12]

In September 2008 Gazprom, the Russian energy company of which the state holds a controlling stake, signed an agreement worth US$4.5 billion to explore for gas in Bolivia. In December 2008, Russia invested US$4 million in a study on the Bolivian gas industry, with hopes of opening a joint Russian-Bolivian center on gas exploration sometime in 2009.[13]

In March 2009, Russia and Bolivia signed a protocol agreement aimed at strengthening democracy in each nation. In February 2009 President Evo Morales visited Moscow. His trip was the first ever by a Bolivian head of state to the Russian capital. During the visit, both leaders signed an agreement strengthening energy and military ties between the two nations in addition to strengthening counter narcotics co-operation.[14] In May 2009, Bolivia's Viceminister of Foreign Affairs said that Bolivia would be making a multimilliondollar arms and transportation purchase from Russia in efforts to combat drug smuggling and production in Bolivia. [13]

In October 2009, President Evo Morales announce the plans to construct a technical support and repair facility for Russian aircraft in Bolivia that would be built at a former U.S. base near the town of Chimore in the center of the country. the initial investment in the construction is estimated at $5 million and the length of the existing runway will be extended by three times "to receive the most modern aircraft."[15]

References
  1. "Bolivia: Características de Población y Vivienda: Censo National de Población y Vivienda 2012" (PDF) (in Spanish). Bolivian National Institute of Statistics. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  3. "Bolivia: Características de Población y Vivienda: Censo National de Población y Vivienda 2012" (PDF) (in Spanish). Bolivian National Institute of Statistics. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  5. "Bolivia". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  6. p.11
  7. "Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Bolivia". Ine.gob.bo. 2014-05-22. Archived from the original on 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  8. "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  9. p. 3 Archived 2014-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Origins and Destinations of the World's Migrants, from 1990–2013". Pew Research Center. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  11. "Military Expenditure Database". SIPRI.org. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2009-09-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. EFE (22 May 2009). "Bolivia proyecta comprar armamento ruso por varios millones de dólares". EL PAÍS. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  14. "BBC NEWS - Americas - Russia to aid Bolivia drugs fight". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  15. Sputnik (25 October 2009). "Bolivia to host servicing center for Russian aircraft". En.rian.ru. Retrieved 15 April 2016.


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