Army General César Augusto Moreno Landaira, commander of the Paraguayan Military Forces, assumed the nation’s highest military leadership post in late 2023. As a seasoned career officer, he has been tasked with spearheading the essential modernization and professionalization of Paraguay’s armed services amid a dynamic and complex regional security environment.
Diálogo had the opportunity to speak with Gen. Moreno during the South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC), held in August, in Argentina. In this exclusive interview, Gen. Moreno provides a detailed look at his strategic vision and the current priorities of the Paraguayan Military Forces. He outlines key priorities, including force modernization, combating transnational organized crime in the Triple Frontier, and strengthening essential security cooperation initiatives with regional allies and the United States to build cyber resilience.
Diálogo: You have been at the helm of the Paraguayan Military Forces since late 2023. Looking back, what have been your most significant achievements so far, and what are your biggest challenges?
Army General César Augusto Moreno Landaira, commander of the Paraguayan Military Forces: Since taking over the leadership of the Military Forces, we’ve driven a significant process of modernization and transformation. This effort is grounded in the Institutional Strategic Plan developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Strategic Security Plan for Development developed by the National Defense Council.
Among our most significant achievements, I can highlight the modernization of our capabilities, covering everything from material resources to doctrine and training, the consolidation of a joint planning structure that fully integrates all three branches of the military, and the strengthening of international cooperation, particularly with our regional partners and the United States. We’ve also prioritized the welfare and professionalization of our personnel, understanding that the men and women who comprise the Armed Forces are our greatest asset.
Our major challenge is maintaining the momentum of these processes in an environment marked by limited resources and evolving threats. These threats range from transnational organized crime and cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns aimed at eroding public confidence.
Our response strategy rests on three pillars: technological modernization, strengthening military and interagency intelligence, and forging strong regional alliances.
Diálogo: The recent announcement that the Paraguayan Army will acquire tactical and armored vehicles is an important step in the modernization of the Military Forces. How will these new assets improve your operational capabilities in the fight against organized crime and terrorism?
Gen. Moreno: The acquisition of multipurpose tactical and armored vehicles represents a crucial leap forward in our operational capacity. These assets will significantly boost our troops’ mobility, enhance personnel protection during operations, and improve our rapid response capabilities in complex scenarios, including fighting organized crime, conducting territorial control, and providing emergency assistance.
Today’s threats demand forces that can move quickly, with adequate protection, and the ability to operate effectively in hostile environments. These vehicles are an investment that will elevate our preparedness and align us more closely with international standards for mobility and operational security.
Diálogo: How do you view the professionalization of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) as a fundamental pillar of the Institutional Strategic Plan, and what specific changes are being introduced in their training and professional development to improve the force’s operational effectiveness?
Gen. Moreno: NCOs are the backbone of the armed forces, and their professionalization is a fundamental pillar of our Institutional Strategic Plan. We are strengthening their curricula by incorporating leadership, technology, and technical specialties. We’re also expanding access to advanced international courses in the United States, such as the Master Sergeants Course at the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence, as well as training opportunities at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), and other centers in partner countries. This gives our NCOs practical experience in multinational settings, which strengthens interoperability and raises professional standards.
Our goal is for every NCO to be a multiplier of capabilities, directly improving the effectiveness of small units deployed in complex operational scenarios.
Diálogo: What types of joint operations and collaborations are currently underway with your regional counterparts and the United States to combat organized crime threats?
Gen. Moreno: At the regional level, we maintain a high degree of coordination with Brazil and Argentina, focusing primarily on border control operations and combating transnational criminal organizations. Operations like Basalto have proven the effectiveness of working together, and we are replicating that experience through other coordinated actions, including coordinated patrols and bilateral security roundtables with neighboring countries.
With the United States, we conduct Joint Combined Exchange Training programs (JCETs), share information, and cooperate in specialized areas like special operations, humanitarian assistance, and cybersecurity. These actions significantly increase our interoperability, build trust, and sharpen our response to common threats. Our cooperation is stronger than ever through three Significant Security Cooperation Initiatives (SSCI): Crisis and Contingency Response (for the Joint Special Forces Battalion), River Security Resilience (for the Itapúa and Confluencia Naval Area), and soon, Cyber Defense and Cybersecurity Capacity Building (for the General Directorate of Information and Communication Technologies).
These unified efforts have a cumulative regional effect against criminal networks that disregard borders. Interoperability and real-time information sharing allow us to react more quickly and effectively.
Diálogo: The Triple Frontier area is a key point for regional security. What tangible results can you highlight that have resulted from improved information sharing and operational coordination with your regional counterparts to counter the presence of transnational criminal organizations and other illicit networks in this critical region?
Gen. Moreno: The Triple Frontier is undeniably a sensitive and complex area. By strengthening information-sharing mechanisms and operational coordination there, we’ve achieved tangible results: We’ve detected and dismantled networks involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, and money laundering; secured significant drug seizures; identified illicit routes; neutralized logistical support cells; and reduced the maneuverability of transnational criminal organizations.
These advances are a direct result of trilateral working groups and strong support from U.S. programs that facilitate the exchange of experts in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The cooperation and mutual trust built with Brazil and Argentina enable us to act more effectively when coordinating land, river, and air operations against criminal organizations, resulting in greater levels of territorial control. These results clearly demonstrate that joint efforts are the only way to address transnational threats.
Furthermore, a strategic plan has been initiated to strengthen all operational areas of the Third Infantry Division, located in Ciudad del Este, to enhance its capabilities for addressing these specific threats.
Diálogo: External actors often resort to hybrid warfare tactics, such as disinformation and cyberattacks. How do the Paraguayan Military Forces collaborate with their international partners to strengthen resilience against these non-traditional threats?
Gen. Moreno: Hybrid threats are a growing challenge because they attack not only physical security but also social cohesion and trust in institutions. We are tackling this on two fronts: first, boosting our strategic communication capabilities to effectively counter disinformation; and second, advancing our cyber defense capabilities with international support. Crucially, active participation in international meetings and working groups strengthens coordination and information exchange with our global partners, enhancing our resilience against both disinformation and cyberattacks.
Our ultimate goal is to develop institutional resilience so that the country can resist and quickly recover from any attempt at information manipulation or aggression in cyberspace.
Diálogo: Speaking of cyberattacks, in 2024, cooperation mechanisms were established with the United States to strengthen cybersecurity. What progress have the Paraguayan Military Forces made in strengthening their cyber capabilities since then?
Gen. Moreno: Since 2024, we’ve implemented technical training programs that have provided us with more specialized personnel in cyber defense. We’ve established initial structures dedicated to cybersecurity and are currently developing our own doctrines tailored to our national reality.
U.S. support has been key, providing both high-level training and knowledge transfer. These advancements position us better to face threats that, while often invisible, are increasingly relevant to national security. Paraguay’s participation in international cyber exercises such as Cyber Yankee (held in the United States) and Southern Defender (a multinational virtual exercise hosted by Paraguay) has sharply improved the professional capacity of our personnel. With these experiences, we aim to adopt a proactive, preventive stance, ensuring operational continuity and protecting sensitive information.
Diálogo: The AMISTAD 25 medical mission, led by U.S. Air Forces Southern and carried out with the assistance of the Ministry of Public Health, recently concluded. What is the importance of these operations for the Paraguayan Military Forces and for the Paraguayans who benefited, and how do you see the expansion of these operations with your U.S. counterparts in the future?
Gen. Moreno: The AMISTAD 25 mission had a profoundly positive impact, delivering medical, dental, and preventive health care to thousands of our compatriots. Beyond the direct benefits to the population, these missions strengthen interagency cooperation between the Military Forces and the Ministry of Health, while simultaneously consolidating our bond with the United States.
These operations are not just a show of solidarity; they reinforce the core concept of the Armed Forces serving the people. We hope to expand these types of joint missions in the future to reach more communities in need.
Diálogo: Paraguay recently received a donation of rescue and firefighting equipment from the Massachusetts National Guard under the State Partnership Program. How important is this equipment to the Paraguayan Army, and what does it mean for its disaster response capabilities?
Gen. Moreno: This equipment represents an invaluable contribution to strengthening our emergency response capabilities, particularly in managing forest fires and natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Having modern equipment allows us to better protect our population, preserve our natural resources, and assist more efficiently during emergencies.
Beyond the equipment itself, this donation symbolizes the deep trust and cooperation between Paraguay and the United States, reinforcing the State Partnership Program as a vital pillar of our international projection in security and humanitarian assistance.
