Bolivia–Spain relations

Bolivia-Spain relations

Bolivia
Spain

Bolivia–Spain refers to the current and historical relations between Bolivia and Spain. Both nations are members of the Association of Spanish Language Academies and the Organization of Ibero-American States.

History

Spanish colonization

Bolivia and Spain share a long history since the arrival of the first Spanish conquistadores led by Francisco Pizarro in 1532. By 1534, Pizarro managed to overcome the Incan Empire (which was in present day Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador) and claimed the territory for Spain.[1] In 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was created and the territory of Bolivia (known at the time as Upper Peru) was governed from its capital in Lima[2] but administered locally by the Real Audiencia of Charcas in present-day Sucre.[3]

In 1545, Spain founded the city of Potosí, next to Cerro Rico which provided vast quantities of silver for the Spanish Empire and was worked by the local Indigenous people.[3] In 1776, Upper Peru was governed by the newly created Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata with its capital in Buenos Aires. [3] In the early 1780s, local indigenous people from the highlands took part in widespread uprisings, most notably the revolt of Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II. The rebels hoped to restore the Inca Empire, however, the revolts were defeated by Spanish forces.[3]

Independence

Declaration of Bolivian Independence

By 1809, the idea of independence spread through Upper Peru as in several other nations throughout Spanish America. In May 1810, a revolution occurred in Buenos Aires which controlled the territory of Upper Peru and led to the Argentine War of Independence led by General José de San Martín. This led to the creation of a guerrilla warfare in 1811 in Upper Peru known as the War of the Republiquetas. The guerrilla fighters were eventually defeated by royalist forces.[3]

In 1822, troops belonging to Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín and Antonio José de Sucre entered Peru and defeated the Spanish forces in the country. Soon afterwards, troops led by Antonio José de Sucre entered Upper Peru and fought against royalist forces. By 1825, Upper Peru was free from Spanish authority. Originally, Bolívar wanted Upper Peru to join either Peru or Argentina, however, the people of Upper Peru convinced Bolívar and Sucre to give autonomy to the territory and on 6 August, 1825, an Upper Peruvian congress declared the country independent and renamed the territory "Bolivia" in honor of Simón Bolívar and named its capital "Sucre" in honor of Antonio José de Sucre.[3]

Post independence

In July 1847, Bolivia and Spain signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship thus establishing diplomatic relations between both nations.[4] In 1866, Bolivia declared war against Spain during the Chincha Islands War which also involved Peru, Chile and Ecuador.[5]

During the Spanish Civil War, Bolivian diplomatic missions in Spain offered asylum to over 300 Spanish citizens and issued visas and safe conduct documents to Spanish nationals to flee to France or to Bolivia.[6] Bolivia maintained diplomatic relations with Spain throughout General Francisco Franco's administration. In the early 1950s, Antonio García Barón, a member of the Durruti Column and survivor of Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp arrived to Bolivia where he moved to the Bolivian jungle and set up an anarchist community.[7]

In May 1987, Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid his first official visit to Bolivia, his first of three visits to the country.[8] In 2006, Evo Morales became President of Bolivia. Relations between both nations have been minimal during the President Morales administration. In May 2012, President Morales nationalized Spanish company Red Eléctrica de España, an electrical grid company operating in Bolivia and in December 2012, President Morales also nationalized Spanish electrical company Iberdrola.[4][9] In February 2013, President Morales nationalized the Spanish infrastructure company, Abertis which led to heightened diplomatic tension between Bolivia and Spain.[10]

In July 2013, on his way back to Bolivia from a visit in Russia, President Morales' plane was forced to land in Austria after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange leaked false information that whistleblower Edward Snowden was onboard President Morales airplane to Bolivia.[11] Spain, France and Italy had denied for President Morales to fly in their airspace which was why the President's airplane was forced to land in Austria. After a thorough search of the plane, it was concluded that Edward Snowden was not onboard.[11]

Bilateral relations

Over the years, both nations have signed numerous agreements such as an Agreement on the Recognition of Academic Degrees (1903); Agreement on Dual-Citizenship (1961); Cultural Agreement (1966); Technical Cooperation (1971); Extradition Treaty (1990); Agreement on the Avoidance of Double-Taxation (1997); Agreement on Adoptions (2001); Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments (2001) and an Air Transportation Agreement (2010).[4]

There are direct flights between Bolivia and Spain through the following airlines: Air Europa and Boliviana de Aviación.

Migration

Consulate-General of Bolivia in Barcelona

In 2011, approximately 250,000 Bolivian citizens resided in Spain.[12] Most Bolivians left their country of origin to Spain to escape poverty and political instability. In 2011, Bolivian nationals in Spain sent over $1 billion USD in remittances to Bolivia.[12] In 2014, there were approximately 10,000 Spanish citizens residing in Bolivia.[13]

Trade

In 2015, trade between Bolivia and Spain totaled €215 million Euros.[4] That same year, Spain had €307 million Euros worth of investments in Bolivia. Spain is the largest foreign direct investor in Bolivia.[4] Spanish multinational companies such as Mapfre and Repsol operate in Bolivia.

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

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