The Government of Bolivia expressed its concern regarding the announcement by the Government of Argentina to install a 200-meter fence on the shared border between both countries. According to an official statement released by the Bolivian Foreign Ministry, border issues should be addressed through bilateral dialogue mechanisms to find coordinated solutions.
The 'Protected Borders' plan of the Argentine Ministry of Security includes the installation of a 200-meter wire fence on the border with Bolivia to prevent illegal crossings. The bidding published in the Official Bulletin of Salta specifies that the fencing will be located at the border crossing at the Bermejo River, shared with Argentina.
The 2.5-meter-high fence will extend from the immigration office in the Salta city of Aguas Blancas to the bus terminal, with the purpose of stopping the migratory flow from Bermejo, in Bolivia. This measure aims to prevent people from entering and leaving the country without passing through immigration.
In response, Bolivia requested Argentina to establish a bilateral dialogue to address these border issues, arguing that any unilateral measure could affect good neighborliness and peaceful coexistence between the two countries. The Bolivian government expressed its concern about the proposed fence.
The administrator of Aguas Blancas, Adrián Zigarán, pointed out that the objective of the fence is to prevent the illegal entry of people and highlighted that border control is unequal, as Argentina allocates more immigration personnel than Bolivia. The measure falls within the Güemes Plan presented by the Argentine Ministry of Security to combat drug trafficking and human trafficking in areas considered critical.
