The governments of the United States and Paraguay signed a cooperation agreement on Monday (12/15) that creates a legal framework for the operations of North American military personnel in the South American country, within the framework of security actions, joint training and humanitarian support. The signing took place during a meeting between the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano. Watch:
“If we look at the fundamental problem, the most serious problem we face in our hemisphere is the activities of transnational terrorist organizations which, in many cases, are not terrorists for ideological reasons, but rather for financial and economic reasons. Yet they operate as terrorist organizations and threaten the stability and security of the region. This is a problem we see in many places, and we need strong partners to deal with it. We need strong partners in the region,” he said. Rubio said.
Trump’s secretary stressed that cooperation with Paraguay is not limited to the defense area. “This partnership goes beyond the area of security. Although the agreement focuses on defense, we also want to broaden and deepen our cooperation in the economic area,” he said, mentioning the country’s growth potential and the United States’ interest in strengthening bilateral relations.
The signed document is a Status of Forces Agreement, an instrument used to define the rights, duties and legal status of military personnel and civilian Defense employees when operating in foreign territory. This type of agreement does not necessarily involve the installation of military bases or the permanent presence of troops, but establishes rules for temporary operations and cooperation between countries.
“Both representatives expressed confidence that the agreement will strengthen the sovereignty of both countries and strengthen our cooperation for greater stability and prosperity in the region,” the US government said in a statement.
New American security strategy
The signing of the agreement comes as part of the release of the new national security strategy of the United States, released earlier this month by the administration of President Donald Trump. The document highlights a readjustment of the global military presence, with a greater focus on Latin America as a means of confronting threats considered urgent in the hemisphere.
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The strategy recovers elements of the Monroe Doctrine, which historically defined Latin America as an area of strategic interest for the United States, and establishes guidelines to expand the role of the Coast Guard and the Navy in controlling maritime routes, combating drug and human trafficking, and combating illegal migration.
The text also provides for more targeted actions against cartels, including the use of lethal force when deemed necessary, in addition to expanding access to locations considered strategic.
According to the document, the new guidance aims to correct previous policies that the Trump administration said overburdened the United States and allowed allies to shift their defense costs to Washington.
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