Given the national and international repercussion of the controversial agreement between both nations, the Bolivian Minister of Defense, Edmundo Novillo, informed in a press conference about the results of his trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran in previous days, in order to disclose some details about the cooperation agenda reached in the fields of Defense and Security.
In the first instance, the Bolivian Minister of Defense remarked that the agreements reached are based on the 2007 Bolivia-Iran cooperation framework agreement.
«Some progress has been made between 2010 and 2019 in trips of Bolivian delegations to Iran and this is a process we are continuing,» Novillo clarified.
The documents signed between the Bolivian Government and the Iranian regime include the provision of «Overhaul» services (preventive and corrective maintenance services on aircraft) to Bolivian helicopters and airplanes by Iranian technicians, as well as the provision of drones, boats and cybernetic protection, as well as assistance in the fight against smuggling, drug trafficking, academic training and border control.
Overhaul
«The fact that they have shown us that they have the capacity to perform maintenance and overhaul opens up the possibility of having a country that is willing to cooperate with us, that has said it will give us all the possibilities to do so, and then we will see what type of aircraft we are going to prioritize and based on that we will move forward with the request,» said Minister Novillo.
Once Bolivia defines which aircraft could be subject to maintenance, the corresponding request would be sent to Tehran, which would imply the «arrival of trained civilian personnel who could collaborate in its implementation».
Iranian drones
The Minister explained that he was presented with a variety of drone models representing Iran’s advances in the field, which could respond to Bolivia’s needs to reinforce border control.
Edmundo Novillo expressed the need for such systems and technology in Bolivia with the capacity to cover the diverse and challenging national geography. He explained that some equipment was suggested to him that could satisfy the need for surveillance devices for the border area and that would be optimal for the fight against drug trafficking and smuggling.
See also: Russia unleashes its Iranian drones against Ukrainian positions
Cybersecurity
Minister Novillo also referred to the Bolivian interest in having a cybernetic protection system, particularly to safeguard the information of the different public institutions.
In this sense, aspects and points of interest for both countries were identified and a Register of specific science and technology issues was signed, on which progress will be made.
Mapping
Iran has also offered to transfer technology and knowledge to support the strengthening of the Bolivian Military Geographic Institute (IGM), which is currently working on the Census in Bolivia with the cartographic survey. In this regard, the Minister of Defense highlighted the Iranian progress in geomatics science in different areas and assured that they would be of great contribution to the work developed by the IGM.
