Army Major General Nery Torres Laconich, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Paraguayan Military Forces Command, is committed to guaranteeing the interoperability of the Military Forces to efficiently prevent and combat new regional threats. With a military career spanning more than 30 years, Maj. Gen. Laconich has served as director of the Institute for Advanced Strategic Studies, led Army troops as a Cavalry Brigadier General, and served as vice president of the Inter-American Defense Board of the Organization of American States, among many other positions. Diálogo had the opportunity to talk with Maj. Gen. Laconich about his challenges and objectives, the Military Forces’ modernization, as well as the importance of international cooperation, among other topics.
Diálogo: You have been the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Paraguayan Military Forces Command since late November 2023. What have been your main challenges and objectives in this position?
Army Major General Nery Torres Laconich, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Paraguayan MilitaryForces Command: First, allow me to express my gratitude to U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Diálogo magazine for this opportunity.
I have indeed assumed this important responsibility in the Paraguayan Armed Forces as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Military Forces Command. The main challenge has been to ensure the interoperability of the individual forces, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the major commands, as well as the Logistics Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in order to ensure effective coordination and develop a common strategy, respecting the specificities, to fulfill the constitutional mission in accordance with national defense objectives. In this sense, study commissions were established, composed of military personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and professional experts, as well as legal and logistics advisors, in order to study and assess modification projects based on the structure of the Military Forces to provide capabilities focused on emerging threats, precisely transnational organized crime, related crimes, and cyber defense.
In short, we can say that these important studies focus on establishing the Paraguayan Military Forces with the capabilities to adequately face present and future threat scenarios. Also, an institutional strategic plan for the short-, medium-, and long-term has been implemented, an important document that orients and determines the guidelines in accordance with strategic priorities.
Diálogo: In early February, the Ministry of National Defense launched Operation Basalto, carried out jointly with the Brazilian Armed Forces to fight organized crime, narcotrafficking, and other related crimes. What were the results of this operation and how important is this combined operation with the neighboring country?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: Operations Basalto I and Basalto II are combined joint and interinstitutional operations, mirror operations carried out simultaneously with the Brazilian Armed Forces. They had an important impact to neutralize criminal organizations and related crimes along the border. These important events were carried out in departments of the Republic of Paraguay, covering the departments of Alto Paraguay, Concepción, San Pedro, and Amambay. On the Paraguayan side, institutions such as the Ministry of National Defense; the Ministry of the Interior; the Military Forces with their land, river, and air resources; the Logistics Command; the Internal Defense Command with its northern task forces; the National Police; the Attorney General’s Office; the Anti-Drug Secretariat; and the National Tax Directorate participated. In sum, we can affirm that the loss of profits against these criminal organizations resulted in a sum of USD 45 million in the border zone between the Republic of Paraguay and the Federative Republic of Brazil with its institutions.
Diálogo: In late November 2023, the governments of Paraguay and the United States committed to work closely on cybersecurity and digital cooperation. What types of engagements focused on cyber defense and cybersecurity have you conducted so far with SOUTHCOM?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: Cyberspace has become a major strategic issue where state and non-state actors have increased their capabilities. At the end of last year [2023], the Republic of Paraguay and the United States, the Military Forces Command and SOUTHCOM reaffirmed cooperation ties in cyber defense and cybersecurity, focusing mainly on the training of human resources, as well as the creation of specialized units in cyber defense and in the strengthening of critical infrastructures with the participation of Paraguayan military personnel, senior officers, noncommissioned officers in exercises and simulations in the United States. Also critical has been the participation in important regional and international forums. It should be noted that this cooperation between SOUTHCOM and the Military Forces of the Republic of Paraguay increases our capabilities in the face of these new emerging threats in order to be able to face with success this important and sensitive dimension.
Dialogue: In December 2023, Paraguay and the United States celebrated 80 years of military partnership. Since 1943, the Paraguayan Military Forces and the United States have collaborated on exercises, training, and knowledge exchanges. What types of exchanges did the Paraguayan Military Forces carry out with their U.S. counterparts in 2024 and how has this partnership benefited the Paraguayan military?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: We have had defense relations with the United States since 1943. For more than 80 years, it has been characterized by a strong partnership with SOUTHCOM. Indeed, the visit of then SOUTHCOM commander, General (ret.) Laura Richardson, marked a turning point. This cooperation has materialized in important trainings carried out with the military forces, such as the with the 7th Special Forces Group and the 20th Special Forces Group, as well as civilian affairs.
I would like to highlight that this year an important medical assistance exercise, with doctors, physicians, dentists and comprehensive care, was carried out in an area in the north of the country in the city of Philadelphia and its surroundings, to benefit a vulnerable population. There are important projects, such as training in a crisis response program in the special forces battalion and also an industrial security resilience program, all of which effectively increases the capacities of the Paraguayan Military Forces to be able to confront threats with adequate responses.
Diálogo: The scrutiny on the alleged operations of Iranian proxy Hezbollah in South America has focused on the tri-border area between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, where the terrorist group’s operatives are believed to engage in narcotrafficking, among other related crimes and money laundering. How do the Paraguayan Armed Forces contribute to the fight against these crimes in the area and how do they collaborate with neighboring countries?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: The Military Forces as a fundamental actor of defense, contributing to the security and development of the homeland, through the Internal Defense Command with its joint task forces north and south, contribute effectively in combined, joint, and interinstitutional operations to confront transnational organized crime in that border area. In other words, the Paraguayan Military Forces are present in their contribution against these criminal organizations.
Diálogo: What progress has been made in the modernization plan for the Paraguayan Military Forces?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: With regard to the modernization of the Paraguayan Military Forces, we currently have the Institutional Strategic Plan (PEI), an important document establishing short-, medium- and long-term goals, which constitutes an itinerary, a firm and clear road map. We foresee the construction of the new Marshal Francisco Solano López Military Academy with an investment of more than $50 million, in order to become an iconic, emblematic, and lasting center of excellence with the mission of training the leaders of the Paraguayan Army, Navy, and Air Force. Also, in accordance with this important document, an investment is planned for the purchase of five airplanes for the Paraguayan Air Force, to increase capabilities in airspace control.
The modernization plan for the Military Forces is not limited to the acquisition of material and equipment but also includes the updating of doctrines and permanent training of personnel and of its legal framework; all of this to increase the Paraguayan Military Forces’ capabilities to face present and future challenges.
Diálogo: What progress has been made in the professionalization of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) in the Paraguayan Armed Forces?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: With regard to the professionalization of NCOs in the Paraguayan Armed Forces, it should be noted that considerable progress has been made in recent years, focusing on permanent training, development opportunities, and institutional improvements. It can be noted that this is an ongoing process related to development and leadership operations. SOUTHCOM and the Massachusetts National Guard are full contributors to the process of building the capabilities of NCOs in the Military Forces.
Diálogo: You served as a liaison officer to SOUTHCOM. What was your experience within SOUTHCOM, among other partner nations liaison officers, and how did this experience influence your current position?
Maj. Gen. Laconich: Indeed, I was the first liaison officer, representative of the Paraguayan Military Forces to SOUTHCOM, in 2017-2018, during the command of Admiral W. Tidd and Admiral Craig S. Faller. It was an invaluable opportunity, allowing me to interact, share professional and human experiences with military and civilians from SOUTHCOM and also from other countries. I want to emphasize that it has been of great importance in my career being able to say that I witnessed all the events and activities that this important command performs, while at all times, seeking to strengthen relations of trust, freedom, and prosperity in our hemisphere.
