Major General Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, led a senior leader engagement in Paraguay, January 16-22, to bolster bilateral defense cooperation. This visit marks a significant milestone as Massachusetts and Paraguay celebrate 25 years of partnership under the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP).
During the visit, Maj. Gen. Keefe and a delegation of Massachusetts Guard members met with high-ranking officials, including Minister of Defense Retired General Óscar Luís González Cañete and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Defense General César Augusto Moreno Landaira. The discussions focused on expanding training, technical expertise, and emergency preparedness.
“I love this country, and I love it because of your values,” Maj. Gen. Keefe said. “Every Paraguayan you meet […] shares the values of faith, family and friends […]. The spirit of that person is what continues to drive great nations like Paraguay forward.”
The engagement included several key site visits and ceremonies. At Silvio Pettirossi Air Force Base, the delegation joined the Paraguayan Air Force (FAP) to mark the 46th anniversary of the Aerotactical Group. Maj. Gen. Keefe also traveled to Encarnación to observe training at the Army Noncommissioned Officers Military School (COMISOE), Paraguay’s premier institution for NCO development. Highlighting the deepening operational ties, Maj. Gen. Keefe joined FAP Colonel Fabio Crispin Candia for a familiarization flight aboard an Embraer A-29 Super Tucano before meeting briefly with President Santiago Peña.
“In my 11 years as the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, I’ve watched Paraguay rise as a leader in the region and a trusted partner,” Maj. Gen. Keefe noted. “I love this country. I love its people — their humility, the nation’s resilience and their will to fight to protect it. Paraguay is a country of true warriors, both men and women, and we are proud to be your partner.”
The visit also emphasized emerging domains, such as a tour of the Paraguayan Armed Forces’ new cyber battalion facility. Addressing the shared digital landscape, Maj. Gen. Keefe stated, “We share many of the same concerns: protecting critical infrastructure and defending against cyberattacks. When infrastructure fails, communication fails, and the military cannot do its job of protecting citizens. I look forward to seeing where you want to go over the next five years, and we will help you get there.”
The Massachusetts-Paraguay partnership began in 2001 under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Keefe’s late father, Major General George W. Keefe. Over two decades, this bond has evolved from basic military exchanges into a sophisticated collaboration involving cybersecurity, peacekeeping, and humanitarian response. This long-standing relationship remains a cornerstone of Massachusetts’ international engagements, which also include partnerships with Kenya, Israel, Ireland, and Germany to strengthen global security and regional stability.
