Paraguay and the United States are continuing to consolidate their strategic cooperation on defense and security through a multifaceted partnership — a cornerstone of stability in the region. This mutually beneficial alliance, built on a foundation of shared principles, is actively focused on confronting transnational threats, strengthening institutions, and promoting regional security.
The relationship, which spans more than 160 years of diplomatic ties, is reinforced by a shared commitment to democracy and institutional transparency. High-level diplomatic engagements in recent months have further cemented this alliance, with senior officials from both governments agreeing to expand cooperation on security, the economy, and irregular migration.
According to political scientist Juan Belikow, “The relationship in defense and security is excellent.” Belikow also noted that Paraguay is the only country in South America that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Tangible support and collaboration
The partnership is defined by mutual support and joint operational collaboration. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), its components, and the Massachusetts National Guard, Paraguay’s partner under the State Partnership Program, work with the Paraguayan Armed Forces with training, advice, and equipment, especially in sensitive areas such as the north and the Triple Frontier.
“Technical cooperation and joint exercises are essential to maintaining the professionalism and modernization of the Paraguayan Armed Forces,” Belikow said. “Technology transfer, knowledge exchange, doctrinal updates, and civic actions play a central role in this process.”
This cooperation is also a crucial element of agency-level work. “The United States’ best ally in Paraguay is the defense and security sector,” Belikow said. The Sensitive Investigation Unit (SIU), a joint effort between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Paraguay’s National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD), has led to significant seizures of cocaine and marijuana. These joint efforts demonstrate Paraguay’s critical role in regional interdiction operations that directly benefit the region.
This includes a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) that brought together instructors from the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Paraguayan commandos between March and May. This training improved national tactical capabilities and strengthened interoperability.
The alliance also includes significant donations to modernize the Paraguayan Armed Forces. Paraguay acquired a $45.7 million ground radar under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The United States also delivered 10 river patrol boats to reinforce security on the Paraná-Paraguay waterway. In early August, the AMISTAD 2025 mission, led by U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH), stopped in Paraguay to provide joint specialized medical care, a key example of civil-military cooperation and humanitarian assistance.
In late 2024, the government of Paraguay, in collaboration with SOUTHCOM, conducted a joint cyber security review of Paraguayan government networks. During the review, the Chinese cyber espionage actor Flax Typhoon was identified as infiltrating government systems. This collaboration is part of an ongoing partnership to build a more secure and resilient digital infrastructure, and to address shared challenges in cyberspace.
Paraguay’s strategic role and regional leadership
Paraguay is a key strategic partner due to its location as a passageway for narcotrafficking between Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, a position that allows it to develop regional control capabilities. This makes the nation a crucial partner in missions that enhance hemispheric security. Paraguay actively participates in SOUTHCOM-sponsored exercises like UNITAS, the longest-running multinational maritime exercise, PANAMAX, which focuses on the defense and security of the Panama Canal, and recently in Chilean-led Southern Star 2025, among others. These exercises are a core part of its efforts to enhance readiness and improve interoperability.
The nation’s role as a regional leader is also growing. In June, Paraguay chaired the 65th Conference of the American Air Forces (CONJEFAMER), a major regional forum that promoted doctrine exchange and shared air surveillance initiatives with representatives from more than 20 countries. “Our sovereignty should not be a wall, but a bridge toward shared responsibility,” President Santiago Peña stated during the conference. In December 2024, during a joint operation with Brazil’s Federal Police, Paraguay made the largest marijuana seizure in its history with 57 tons confiscated, demonstrating its critical role in regional interdiction operations.
“Over the past 20 years, Paraguay has undergone a transition in defense, and the issue has become a national priority,” Belikow noted.
The comprehensive nature of the Paraguay-U.S. alliance, which combines diplomatic engagement with tangible support, strategic training, and digital cooperation, serves to strengthen Paraguay’s defense capabilities and promote regional stability. “In a context where conflicts take hybrid forms and non-state actors use advanced technologies […] U.S. cooperation is key,” Belikow concluded. “That support has allowed Paraguay to move forward in addressing these threats, strengthening interoperability with allies such as the United States.”
