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

Paraguayan Vice President Pedro Alliana, visiting Israel for the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, tells The Jerusalem Post that Paraguay will not renounce its alliance with Israel despite political costs. The visit included meetings with Israeli officials, cooperation talks on healthcare and security, and commemorations. Alliana, a presidential candidate for 2028, pledges continuity in the relationship.

Paraguayan Vice President Pedro Alliana, visiting Israel alongside Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and Environment Minister Rolando de Barros Barreto, tells The Jerusalem Post that Paraguay will not renounce its friendship with Israel despite political costs. The delegation's visit was timed to mark the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Alliana met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Wednesday, discussing expanded cooperation in healthcare, technology, and security, followed by meetings with the prime minister and president on Thursday. The delegation visited Yad Vashem and participated in October 7 commemorations. Alliana acknowledged political costs from standing with Israel but said Paraguay will not renounce its values and principles. The article traces Paraguay's support for Israel back to its 1947 UN partition plan vote and notes the embassy's relocation to Jerusalem in 2018, its reversal in 2018, and its reopening in Jerusalem in December 2024 under President Santiago Peña. Alliana, a former Chamber of Deputies president and Colorado Party leader, intends to seek the presidency in 2028 and frames his candidacy as a commitment to preserving the relationship with Israel. The article also draws a historical parallel between Paraguay's devastating War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870) and Jewish historical suffering, suggesting this shared experience of catastrophic loss informs Paraguay's affinity for Israel.