Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said Argentine C-130 Hercules aircraft were used to move Bolivian military personnel inside the country [1].
The dispute highlights a sharp divide between the former president and the current administration regarding the nature of foreign assistance during domestic instability. While Morales suggests a military intervention by Argentina, the Bolivian government maintains the flights were purely humanitarian.
Morales said that the aircraft were utilized to mobilize troops within Bolivia [1]. He specifically pointed to the role of Argentine President Javier Milei in the deployment of these assets.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz rejected these allegations. Paz said he thanked President Milei for sending two [2] Hercules aircraft to bring food to cities currently under blockade [2].
A spokesperson for the Bolivian government said that the aircraft were requested solely to supply food, not to transport military personnel [2]. This response contradicts the account provided by Morales, who alleged the planes served a strategic military purpose rather than a relief effort.
The aircraft originated from Argentina and operated primarily in the capital, La Paz, and other cities facing blockades [2]. The disagreement centers on whether the Argentine government is providing logistical support for the Bolivian military or alleviating a food crisis [1, 2].
President Paz said that the assistance was necessary to ensure the delivery of essential supplies to citizens trapped by the blockades [2].
“"They used Argentine Hercules planes to move our troops inside Bolivia."”
The conflicting accounts regarding the use of Argentine C-130s reflect the deep political polarization in Bolivia. By framing humanitarian aid as military mobilization, Morales is challenging the legitimacy of President Paz's administration and the nature of its relationship with President Milei's government, potentially signaling further political instability during the current blockades.
