“Today, we must seek justice in our cause, maintaining our aspiration for full maritime sovereignty and striving to strengthen our State and economy,” said the president in a speech delivered in the town of Tiquina, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. , in the department of La Paz.
Arce added that, for this reason, the Armed Forces and, in particular, the Bolivian Navy, must remain in the patriotic line of heroes such as Andrés de Santa Cruz, Tata Belzu, (Hilarión) Daza, (Gualberto) Villarroel and Juan José Tórrez.
He insisted that the practical application of these principles in each military field is of vital importance to consolidate the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Democratic, Popular and Cultural Revolution.
He evoked the loss of the coast because in 1904 the mining oligarchy prioritized its individual and business interests over the patriotic cause.
He added that the popular will rectified the errors and the name of the Bolivian Navy was consolidated in the new Political Constitution of 2009 as an expression of the country’s maritime power, in order to strengthen security, defense and development capabilities for collective well-being.
“Our goal is to project ourselves into the 21st century as a South American power, peaceful and democratic, but firm,” he emphasized, “in the defense of our rights and the common good.”
He maintained that along these lines his Government prioritizes industrialization plans with import substitution, which will transform Bolivia into a more prosperous and equitable country.
He noted, however, that we must remain alert, “since the existence of lithium, gold, rare earths and strategic resources (are) desired by imperialist powers and sub-imperial partners in the region due to the global demand of industry 4.0 and the energy transition”.
He recalled that the Andean Amazon country with its sovereign and patriotic approach builds alliances for the exploitation of lithium with the cooperation of China and Russia.
He indicated that this sector, together with the development projects of industrial plants, will become key factors to strengthen national power, as well as increase Bolivian cargo to Pacific and Atlantic ports.
He warned that given these advances, “new threats, new expressions to attack national security were revealed, ranging from color revolutions to the promotion of conflicts between regions, generating damage to the economy, trade and transportation.
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