Foreign relations of Paraguay

Paraguay

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Paraguay

Constitution President Fernando Lugo Vice President Federico Franco National Congress Chamber of Senators Chamber of Deputies Political parties Elections: 2003, 2008 Departments Districts Foreign relations

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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. The current Minister of Foreign Relations as of 2011 is Jorge Lara Castro

Unlike any other country in South America, Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China instead of the People's Republic of China. Although not a particularly large country in absolute terms, Paraguay presently is the largest country maintaining official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China.

Latin America

Argentina

Main article: Argentina–Paraguay relations

• Date started:1811
• Argentina has an embassy in Asuncion and 2 Consulates-General (in Ciudad del Este and Encarnación).
• Paraguay has an embassy in Buenos Aires and 7 consulates (in Clorinda, Corrientes, Formosa, Posadas, Resistencia, Rosario and Puerto Iguazú)

Bolivia

In 2009 Bolivian President Evo Morales and Paraguayuan President Fernando Lugo signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which 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"

Brazil

See Paraguay–Brazil relations

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 Inacio Lula da Silva called it a "historic agreement" and the deal slated as a political victory for Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.

Chile

See Foreign relations of Chile

Colombia

See Foreign relations of Colombia

Mexico

Main article: Mexico–Paraguay relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1881. Mexico has an embassy in Asuncion. Paraguay has an embassy in Mexico City and an honorary consulate in Guadalajara.

Both countries are full members of the Rio Group, of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, of the Organization of American States and of the Organization of Ibero-American States.

Peru

Main article: Paraguay–Peru relations

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 2, 1858.
• Paraguay has an embassy in Lima.
• Peru has an embassy in Asuncion.
• Both countries are full members of the Rio Group, of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, of the Organization of American States, of the Organization of Ibero-American States and of the Union of South American Nations.
• Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Relations about the relation with Paraguay (in Spanish only)

Uruguay

Main article: Paraguay–Uruguay relations

• Date started: 1845-04-06
• Paraguay has an embassy in Montevideo.
• Uruguay has an embassy in Asuncion.

Venezuela

Relations between Paraguay and Venezuela have improved since Paraguay's new leftist President Fernando Lugo was inaugurated, a change from 61 unbroken years of Colorado party rule. President Lugo has supported Venezuela's entry into Mercosur however the Colorado Party's influence in Paraguay's Congress and Senate retards this expansion.

Paraguay and Venezuela have restarted negotiations on an unpaid debt of $250 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.

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Bulgaria	1992-12-02	See Bulgaria–Paraguay relations Bulgaria is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.[citation needed] Paraguay is represented in Bulgaria through its embassy in Rome, Italy.[citation needed] Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations
Denmark		Paraguay is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in Berlin, Germany. Denmark is represented in Paraguay, through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
France	1853	Both countries has diplomatic relations since the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Navigation signed in 1853. France has an embassy in Asuncion. Paraguay has an embassy in Paris. French Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Paraguay Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with France
Germany		See Foreign relations of Germany
Italy		See Foreign relations of Italy
Russia		See Paraguay–Russia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1992. Paraguay has an embassy in Moscow. Russia is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and an honorary consulate in Asunción. On September 13, 2007, Russia's acting foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, declared to soon open a resident embassy in Paraguay's capital. Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations
Spain		See Paraguay–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on September 10, 1880. Paraguay has an embassy in Madrid, a general consulate in Barcelona and a consulate in Málaga. Spain has an embassy in Asuncion. Both countries are full members of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, and of the Organization of Ibero-American States. Spanish Ministry of Foreign about the relation with Paraguay (in Spanish only)
Ukraine	1993-02-26	See Paraguay–Ukraine relations Paraguay is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Moscow (Russia). Ukraine is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and an honorary consulate in Asuncion. There is an important community of people of Ukrainian origins in Paraguay (between 10,000 and 15,000 people), most of whom arrived at the beginning of the 20th century. (See Ukrainians in Paraguay) Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations
United Kingdom	1853-03-04	See Paraguay – United Kingdom relations The United Kingdom is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and an honorary consulate in Asuncion. Paraguay has an embassy in London. British Foreign and Commonwealth Office about relations with Paraguay Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with the United Kingdom

Rest of world

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Canada		See Foreign relations of Canada
India	1961-09-13	India is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina and an honorary consulate in Asuncion. Since 2005, Paraguay has had an embassy in New Delhi .
Egypt		Paraguay has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Asuncion .
Japan		See Foreign relations of Japan
Republic of China		See Republic of China – Paraguay relations Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China on Taiwan instead of the People's Republic of China.
SADR	2000-02-09	Paraguay recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
South Africa		Paraguay has an Embassy in Pretoria. The South African Embassy at Asuncion was closed in December 1996 and the Resident Ambassador to Argentina was subsequently appointed non-Resident Ambassador to Paraguay. South African also has an honorary consulate in Asuncion. Both countries are full members of the Cairns Group and G20. In April 1974, the then president of Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner made a five-day state visit to South Africa. Paraguay was given a $20 million loan for agricultural development and agreements were signed on economic cooperation. Gen. Stroessner became known as an ally of apartheid South Africa. Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with South Africa South African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Paraguay
South Korea	1962-06-15	Paraguay has an embassy in Seoul. South Korea has an embassy in Asuncion. There are about 5,000 people of Korean descent living in Paraguay Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Korea South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about relations with Paraguay
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 Paraguan Air Forces do not have. 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.

International Organizations

Paraguay is a member of the following international organizations:

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

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Paraguay
• List of diplomatic missions of Paraguay

External links

• Foreign Ministry of Paraguay (Spanish)