Sa’ar meets Paraguayan president in Asunción to boost economic and security ties

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meets with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña in Asunción during a diplomatic trip to Paraguay and Argentina this week, Sa’ar’s office says in a statement.

During the meeting, the two discuss ways to strengthen bilateral and economic ties as well as the situation in the Middle East and in South America. Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, Israel’s Ambassador to Paraguay Amit Mekel, and Paraguay’s Ambassador to Israel Alejandro Rubin attended the meeting as well, the statement adds.

According to Sa’ar’s office, the two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding later today to advance security cooperation.

“Argentina and Paraguay have stood firmly alongside Israel over the past two years during the war, and they remain steadfast with Israel in the international arena and in international institutions,” Sa’ar said in an earlier statement about the visit to both countries.

Paraguay moved its embassy to Jerusalem last December. Argentine President Javier Milei, who Sa’ar is slated to meet with in Buenos Aires later this week, announced during a June visit to Israel that Argentina would open its embassy in Jerusalem next year.

Sa’ar also thanks Pena for Paraguay’s April decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hamas, and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.