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Foreign relations of Paraguay

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Paraguayan foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its neighbors, and it has been an active proponent of regional co-operation. It is a member of the United Nations and has served one term in the UN Security Council in 1967–1969. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It also belongs to the Organization of American States, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market) and UNASUR.

At the political level, diplomatic affairs and international relations of Paraguay are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, which answers to the executive branch of the government. Minister of Foreign Relations 2018 -2019 was Luis Alberto Castiglioni.[1]

Unlike any other country in South America, Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China instead of the People's Republic of China. Paraguay presently is the largest country maintaining official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Paraguay maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date[2]
1 Argentina 28 December 1842[3]
2 Chile 22 July 1843[4]
3 Brazil 14 September 1844[5]
4 Uruguay 1 January 1846[6]
5 Portugal 14 February 1846[7]
6 France 4 March 1853[8]
7 United Kingdom 4 March 1853[9]
8 United States 26 November 1861[10]
9 Peru 25 June 1862[11]
10 Belgium 17 June 1863[12]
11 Italy 1867[13]
12 Colombia 27 July 1870[14]
— Holy See 31 December 1877[15]
13 Bolivia 15 October 1879[16]
14 Spain 10 September 1880[17]
15 Ecuador 15 December 1880[18]
16 El Salvador 1880[19]
17 Mexico 3 October 1883[20][21]
— Venezuela (suspended)[22] 7 August 1891[23]
18  Switzerland 27 June 1892[24]
19 Netherlands 13 June 1896[25]
20 Dominican Republic 18 February 1902[26]
21 Norway 2 April 1906[27]
22 Cuba 13 July 1906[28]
23 Guatemala 1 May 1907[29]
24 Japan 17 November 1919[30]
25 Poland 2 May 1920[31]
26 Sweden 24 February 1923[32]
27 Austria 19 August 1927[33]
28 Czech Republic 14 February 1936[34]
29 Panama 31 October 1942[35]
30 Costa Rica 5 January 1948[3]
31 Honduras 22 March 1949[12]
32 Israel 5 December 1950[36]
33 Serbia 1950[37]
34 Denmark 9 October 1951[38]
35 Germany 1 October 1952[39]
36 Turkey 11 September 1953[40]
37 Nicaragua 18 January 1956[41]
38 Haiti 2 October 1956[12]
— Republic of China 8 July 1957[42]
39 Lebanon 12 May 1958[43]
40 Egypt 1959[44]
41 India 13 September 1961[45]
42 South Korea 12 June 1962[46]
43 Canada 5 July 1962[47]
44 Philippines 12 December 1962[48]
45 Thailand 17 December 1962[49]
46 Finland 20 November 1963[50]
47 Morocco 1964[51]
48 Luxembourg 26 February 1965[52]
49 Pakistan 23 October 1967[53]
50 Greece 28 February 1972[54]
51 South Africa 3 April 1974[55]
52 Australia 2 December 1974[56]
53 Indonesia 29 November 1982[57]
54 Nigeria 27 May 1988[58]
55 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 22 June 1989
56 Malaysia 17 November 1989[59]
57 Hungary 2 May 1991
58 Slovenia 25 February 1992[60]
59 Croatia 13 March 1992[61]
60 Russia 14 May 1992[62]
61 Romania 28 May 1992
62 Latvia 3 June 1992
63 Armenia 2 July 1992
64 Estonia 2 July 1992
65 Ivory Coast 28 July 1992
66 Albania 29 July 1992
67 Belize 2 November 1992
68 Jamaica 10 November 1992
69 Belarus 18 November 1992
70 Suriname 20 November 1992
71 Bulgaria 2 December 1992
72 Singapore 10 December 1992
73 Slovakia 8 January 1993[63]
74 New Zealand 17 February 1993
75 Iran 19 February 1993
76 Kuwait 23 February 1993
77 Ukraine 26 February 1993
78 Lithuania 3 March 1993
79 Seychelles 23 April 1993
80 Barbados 27 May 1993[64]
81 Saint Lucia 18 June 1993
82 Cameroon 3 December 1993
83 Guyana 14 April 1994
84 Trinidad and Tobago 24 May 1994
85 Cambodia 27 October 1994
86 Algeria 3 February 1995
87 Andorra 23 March 1995
88 Vietnam 30 May 1995
89 Brunei 8 April 1996
90 Mozambique 3 October 1997
91 Ireland 15 May 2001
92 Uzbekistan 27 August 2001[65]
93 Cyprus 8 October 2001
94 Qatar 8 November 2002
95 San Marino 3 April 2003[66]
96 Mongolia 17 June 2003[67]
97 Iceland 17 March 2004
98 Azerbaijan 20 April 2004
99 Malta 8 July 2004
100 Kazakhstan 20 September 2004[68]
101 Syria 13 December 2004
— State of Palestine 26 March 2005[69]
102 Bahrain 6 May 2005
103 Sudan 10 May 2005[70]
104 Laos 28 September 2005
105 Equatorial Guinea 3 November 2005
106 Jordan 15 November 2005
107 Oman 15 November 2005
108 Namibia 17 April 2006[71]
109   Nepal 2 August 2006
110 Republic of the Congo 23 March 2007[72]
111 Eswatini 3 April 2007[72]
112 Montenegro 5 June 2007
113 Angola 21 June 2007[72]
114 United Arab Emirates 13 July 2007
115 Botswana 16 July 2007
116 Tajikistan 30 August 2007[73]
117 North Macedonia 26 October 2007
118 Benin 18 February 2009[74]
119 Sri Lanka 3 April 2009
120 Saudi Arabia 9 July 2009
121 Bosnia and Herzegovina 22 September 2009
122 Kenya 25 September 2009
123 Georgia 9 March 2010
124 Senegal March 2010[75]
125 Eritrea March 2010[75]
126 Gambia 23 April 2010[76]
127 Burkina Faso 18 May 2010
128 Burundi 2010[77]
129 Niger 2010[77]
130 Uganda 18 June 2010
131 Mali 25 June 2010[78]
132 Djibouti 22 July 2010
133 Maldives 28 September 2010[79]
134 Mauritius 28 September 2010
135 Zambia 28 September 2010[80]
136 Ethiopia 29 September 2010[80]
137 Fiji 22 December 2010
138 Samoa 28 January 2011[81]
139 Libya 9 February 2011
140 Liechtenstein 6 April 2011[82]
141 Solomon Islands 4 May 2011[83]
142 Moldova 5 May 2011[84]
143 Tuvalu 2 June 2011[85]
144 Zimbabwe 29 March 2012
145 Kyrgyzstan 23 May 2012[86]
146 Mauritania 5 June 2012[87]
147 Monaco 14 June 2012[88]
148 Saint Kitts and Nevis 22 March 2013[89]
149 Dominica 5 March 2015[90]
150 Antigua and Barbuda 21 September 2016
151 Grenada 21 September 2016
152 Papua New Guinea 21 September 2016
153 Turkmenistan 28 July 2017
154 Federated States of Micronesia 11 October 2018
155 Tunisia 1 November 2018
156 Bangladesh 1 April 2019[91]
157 Marshall Islands 26 September 2019
158 Guinea 15 June 2021[92]
159 Ghana 17 June 2021[93]
160 Kiribati 20 October 2021
161 Palau 1 April 2022[94]
162 Timor-Leste 18 September 2022
163 Rwanda 18 April 2023
164 Guinea-Bissau 13 July 2023
165 São Tomé and Príncipe 13 July 2023
166 Bahamas 17 June 2025[95][96]
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Bilateral relations

Africa

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
SADR9 February 2000[97][98]

Paraguay recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

In January 2014, Paraguay officially suspends its relations with Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.[99]

South Africa
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Americas

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Argentina1811See Argentina–Paraguay relations
BoliviaSee Bolivia–Paraguay relations

In 2009 Bolivian President Evo Morales and Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which had led to the Chaco War in the 1930s. President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries" [104] Relations, as with many countries in the area, have had increased tension since the Paraguay impeachment in 2012.

BrazilSee Brazil–Paraguay relations
Border of Brazil and Paraguay

Paraguay–Brazil relations have improved greatly after Brazilian President Lula's decision in 2009 to triple its payments to Paraguay for energy from a massive hydro-electric dam on their border, ending a long-running dispute. Under the accord, Brazil will pay Paraguay $360m a year for energy from the jointly-operated Itaipu plant. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called it a "historic agreement" and the deal slated as a political victory for former Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.[105]

In February 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro praised the late military strongman of Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner, calling him "a man of vision." Bolsonaro made the comments during a ceremony at the Itaipu hydroelectric dam on the countries' shared border. At his side was his close ally, Paraguayan right-wing President Mario Abdo Benitez.[106]

  • Brazil has an embassy in Asunción and maintains several consulates throughout the country.
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Brasília and maintains several consulates throughout the country.
Canada
  • Canada is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Ottawa.[107]
ColombiaSee Colombia–Paraguay relations, List of ambassadors of Paraguay to Colombia
  • Colombia has an embassy in Asunción.
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Bogotá.
Mexico18 April 1881See Mexico–Paraguay relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1881.

  • Mexico has an embassy in Asunción.[108]
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Mexico City.
Peru2 May 1858See Paraguay–Peru relations
United States See Paraguay–United States relations

A military training agreement with Asunción, giving immunity to US soldiers, caused some concern after media reports initially reported that a base housing 20,000 US soldiers was being built at Mariscal Estigarribia within 200 km of Argentina and Bolivia, and 300 km of Brazil, near an airport which could receive large planes (B-52, C-130 Hercules, etc.) which the Paraguayan Air Forces do not have.[112][113]

In September 2009 Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo revoked plans for US troops to hold joint military exercises and development projects after stating that he no longer thinks that hosting troops taking part in the US department of defence's "New Horizons" programme was worthwhile. President Lugo referenced strong regional opposition from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador to the expansion of US military bases in Colombia in his decision.[114]

Uruguay6 April 1845See Paraguay–Uruguay relations
VenezuelaSee Paraguay–Venezuela relations

Relations between Paraguay and Venezuela improved during Paraguay's leftist President Fernando Lugo (2008–2012), a change from 61 unbroken years of Colorado party rule. President Lugo supported Venezuela's entry into Mercosur however the Colorado Party's influence in Paraguay's Congress and Senate retarded this expansion.

Paraguay and Venezuela restarted negotiations on an unpaid debt of $250 million owed by Paraguayan oil company Petropar to its counterpart Petróleos de Venezuela after the Presidents of Paraguay and Venezuela met to deal with the financing.[117]

In January, 2019, Paraguay cut its diplomatic relations with Venezuela, considering the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro illegitimate due to disputed election.[118] Diplomatic relations were re-established on 15 November 2023.[119]

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Asia

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Azerbaijan 20 April 2004[120] See Azerbaijan-Paraguay relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 20, 2004.[120]

Chinano relations See China–Paraguay relations
  • China is currently accredited to Paraguay from its consulate-general in São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Paraguay is currently accredited to People's Republic of China through its embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.[121][122]
Republic of China (Taiwan)8 July 1957 See Paraguay–Taiwan relations

Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China as the legitimate government of China.

India13 September 1961 See India–Paraguay relations
Israel1949 See Israel–Paraguay relations
  • Israel has an embassy in Asunción.
  • Since 2024, Paraguay has an embassy in Jerusalem (previously in Tel Aviv).
Japan17 November 1919See Japan–Paraguay relations
  • Japan has an embassy in Asunción.
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Tokyo.
Mongolia2003-06-17
  • Mongolia is accredited to Paraguay through its embassy in Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Paraguay is accredited to Mongolia through its embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
  • Mongolia signed a visa-free agreement with Paraguay on 26 September 2019.[127]
South Korea15 June 1962See Paraguay–South Korea relations
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Seoul.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Asunción.
Turkey1953[128]See Paraguay–Turkey relations
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Ankara.[129]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Asunción.[129]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$82.1 million in 2019 (Paraguay's exports/imports: US$35/47.1 million).[129]
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Europe

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Croatia13 March 1992
  • Paraguay is represented in Croatia through its embassy in Vienna, Austria.[130]
  • Croatia is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[131]
Denmark
France1853
Germany1860See Germany–Paraguay relations
  • Germany has an embassy in Asunción.
  • Paraguay has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Frankfurt.
Iceland
RussiaSee Paraguay–Russia relations
Slovenia
Spain10 September 1880See Paraguay–Spain relations
 Switzerland
United Kingdom4 March 1853See Paraguay–United Kingdom relations
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano in London, July 2025.

Paraguay established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 March 1853.[9]

  • Paraguay maintains an embassy in London.
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Paraguay through its embassy in Asunción.[144]

Both countries share common membership of the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.[145]

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Oceania

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
AustraliaSee Australia–Paraguay relations

Australia's positive relations with Paraguay are growing. In 2011, Paraguay opened an embassy in Canberra, Australia opened a consulate in Asunción. As agricultural producers and exporters, they work together to achieve fairer international trade in agricultural products through membership of the Cairns Group and cooperation in other multilateral fora. Australia is also increasing its engagement with Paraguay through development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. An increasing number of Paraguayan students are pursuing their education at Australian institutions.[146]

  • Australia is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Paraguay is accredited to Australia from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
New Zealand
  • New Zealand is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. New Zealand has an Honorary Consulate in Asunción.[147][148][149]
  • Paraguay is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan.
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International organizations

Paraguay is a member of the following international organizations:[150]

CAN (associate), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD (also known as the World Bank), ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Rio Group, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO.

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