Bolivia, Paraguay finalise border after 88 years of talks

For nearly nine decades, Bolivia and Paraguay engaged in complex negotiations to determine the course of their shared 755km international border, a process that began following a territorial war in 1932. The Chaco War, which ended in 1935, resulted in Bolivia losing an area equivalent to more than half of Paraguay's current territory. Following a peace and boundary treaty in 1938, a lengthy demarcation process ensued, carried out by technical commissions from both nations over the course of 88 years.

On Wednesday, the two countries reached a conclusion after almost a century of discussions. Delegates from the joint Bolivian-Paraguayan boundary demarcation commission worked in La Paz for three days, cross-checking geographic information collected along the border by high-precision drones against desk-based data. The final stretch to be agreed upon was a 3.5km section along the Rio Negro, which originates in Bolivia.

Bolivia's foreign ministry stated that finalising the border would strengthen trust and cooperation between the two countries, closing a historic chapter to build a secure and mutually recognised border. Paraguay's foreign ministry highlighted the significance of the achievement, noting that Bolivia and Paraguay would be the only nations in South America with fully demarcated borders.