Paraguay will not renounce friendship with Israel despite political costs, VP tells 'Post'

Alliana means Paraguay sees its relationship with Israel as a matter of principle, not merely a temporary policy choice. He identified democracy, the rule of law, human rights, freedom, and Israel’s right to defend its territory as shared values. These principles, he said, outweigh changing political circumstances.

The clearest example came after October 7, 2023. Paraguay continued supporting Israel even as many governments distanced themselves from Israel’s war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. It restored its embassy in Jerusalem, expanded security cooperation, and sent senior officials to Israel for commemorations.

Alliana acknowledged that this position can bring political costs and diplomatic tensions. Still, he said Paraguay would not renounce its values. His planned 2028 presidential candidacy reflects a goal of preserving this relationship through future changes of government.

A strategic alliance is a durable partnership in which countries coordinate on important interests rather than limiting ties to formal diplomacy. Alliana describes Paraguay’s alliance with Israel as grounded in democracy, the rule of law, human rights, freedom, and Israel’s right to defend itself. That makes the relationship broader than a single agreement or public gesture.

The partnership is becoming practical as well as political. During meetings in Jerusalem, Alliana and Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano met Gideon Sa’ar to discuss expanded cooperation. The areas named were healthcare, technology, security, and other fields. Paraguay has also deepened security cooperation with Israel.

The current effort shows both governments want sustained engagement. Paraguay’s leaders are emphasizing continuity, while Israel recognizes Paraguay as a dependable friend. The relationship could therefore grow through working programs, not only embassy decisions or statements of support.

Paraguay’s distance from Israel makes its commitment especially notable. The two countries are separated by more than 11,000 kilometers, yet Paraguay has remained an unusually close friend of Israel over the Jewish state’s history. Geography has not prevented sustained political, diplomatic, and security ties.

Its support became especially visible after October 7, 2023. While many governments spent years distancing themselves from Israel’s war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, Paraguay restored its embassy in Jerusalem, strengthened security cooperation, and defended Israel’s right to protect itself. Its vice president and foreign minister also traveled to Israel for commemorations.

This position stands out because Paraguay is a distant South American nation and has faced political costs for it. Its leaders nevertheless describe the relationship as based on shared principles. The embassy’s reopening and current delegation show that support is active, not merely historical.

Paraguay’s support for Israel has not been cost-free. Alliana openly acknowledged political costs and tensions, but said the country’s values mattered more than short-term circumstances. The government’s position has also drawn consequences through changes in diplomatic representation.

In 2018, President Horacio Cartes moved Paraguay’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Four months later, successor Mario Abdo Benítez reversed that decision. Israel responded by closing its embassy in Asunción, creating a diplomatic dispute that lasted for years. The reversal showed how quickly a government change could damage bilateral ties.

The relationship began to recover under President Santiago Peña. Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem in December 2024, and Israel later reopened its embassy in Asunción. Paraguay’s current leaders now want the relationship to survive future political changes, despite the costs that firm alignment can bring.

An embassy’s location is a powerful diplomatic signal. Paraguay’s decision to place its embassy in Jerusalem showed support for Israel’s capital claim, while moving it back to Tel Aviv reversed that position. Because Jerusalem is politically sensitive, the choice carried meaning beyond the practical work of an embassy.

Horacio Cartes moved Paraguay’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018, following the United States and Guatemala. Four months later, Mario Abdo Benítez reversed the move. Israel responded by closing its embassy in Asunción. The dispute continued for years and demonstrated how an embassy decision could affect the entire relationship.

President Santiago Peña later restored the connection. In December 2024, he attended the reopening of Paraguay’s embassy in Jerusalem, and Israel subsequently reopened its embassy in Paraguay’s capital. Current leaders see maintaining this arrangement as a test of diplomatic continuity.

Since 2018, changes in Paraguay’s government have directly shaped relations with Israel. Embassy policy shifted with presidential leadership, proving that diplomatic decisions can change quickly when administrations change. This instability became a central concern for Paraguay’s current leaders.

In May 2018, President Horacio Cartes moved Paraguay’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Four months later, his successor, Mario Abdo Benítez, reversed the move. Israel then closed its embassy in Asunción, and the dispute continued for years. The reversal weakened the relationship and created a prolonged diplomatic rupture.

President Santiago Peña, who took office in 2023, worked to restore the relationship. Paraguay reopened its Jerusalem embassy in December 2024, while Israel later reopened its embassy in Asunción. Alliana now says his expected 2028 presidential run will help ensure continuity beyond individual administrations.

The War of the Triple Alliance, fought from 1864 to 1870, pitted Paraguay against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Paraguay suffered military defeat, extensive destruction, and an enormous loss of life. The war remains a major part of Paraguay’s national memory because the country’s population and institutions were devastated.

That history can help explain why national suffering and survival carry deep meaning in Paraguay. However, the provided article does not name the War of the Triple Alliance, give its dates, or describe its casualties. It only introduces a “less familiar dimension” rooted in Paraguay’s own history of extraordinary suffering.

The excerpt therefore does not establish the specific mechanism connecting the war to Paraguay’s affinity with Israel. It indicates that shared national tragedy is important, but further details would be needed to explain how that memory shaped the relationship.