Almost half of the known lithium volume in the world is found in Bolivia.

Lithium is crucial in manufacturing batteries that are effective in electric cars. In order to break our addiction from polluting, rapidly depleting oil, large amounts of lithium is needed.

Bolivia is where the lithium is located.

Bolivia is also on unfriendly diplomatic terms with the United States.

Japanese and European companies are busily trying to strike deals to gain access to the lithium deposits.

“We know that Bolivia can become the Saudi Arabia of lithium,” said Francisco Quisbert, 64, the leader of Frutcas, a group of salt gatherers and quinoa farmers on the edge of Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat.

What does this mean to the readers?

Readers in the U.S. will see a further decline in the U.S. automotive industry – with all the attending economic fallout – as this industry cannot provide quality, electric cars.

Foreign automotive companies – Honda, Toyota, BMW, etc. – with access to Bolivia’s lithium reserves will trounce U.S. car companies. They will have the cheap, electric cars that consumers will demand when oil becomes increasingly more expensive.

Let’s hope that the U.S. State Department’s Krishna Urs can fix this rift in diplomacy with Bolivia.
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www.joshualenon.com

According to this article, this diplomatic showdown started after Bolivia asked the U.S. envoy in La Paz to leave. Bolivia accused the U.S. ambassador of instigating violent protests amongst the lower class.

What’s the controlling international law?

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 controls – well – diplomatic relations. It ensures safe passage for diplomats and their goods and codifies the inviolability of embassies and consuls. This inviolability existed before the Convention as customary law, but controls now.

The U.S., and Venezuela are both signatories to the Convention. Bolivia has acceded to the Convention.

Article 9 of the Convention states:

This means that any state that may at any time may withdraw recognition of a diplomats credentials and ask them to leave the country. There does not have to be a reason for a state to do this.

Expelling diplomats is a move often used in brinkmanship between countries.

What does this mean to you?

The expulsion of diplomats is hardly a reason to panic. Theoretically, new diplomats could be sent to replace the ones expelled. No country appears to have severed all diplomatic relations.

Still, such brinkmanship from South American countries is troubling. The U.S. relationship with many countries south of its border have become tense. Decades of intrusive narcotic policies, support for toppling local governments, and rising rhetoric by the U.S. towards South America has created an increasing sense of mistrust.

The implications from this is that the U.S. will find itself increasingly unable to influence policy in this area. From drug trafficking to mining and oil sales, South American countries may find reasons to go against the interests of the U.S. If only out of spite for decades of ill treatment.

As world politics shift to accommodate the rising economic might of China & Russia, the U.S. should be seeking to strengthen relationships, especially with it’s neighbors.