A few minutes with Paraguay's President Santiago Peña

The war that started with the horrific Hamas attacks last October 7 has once again positioned Israel as an ideological pivot for the world. The international right, historically associated with fascism, now supports the Jewish state for a complex variety of reasons. In contrast, the left, which claims to champion feminism and minority rights, backs an extremist terrorist group notorious for oppressing women and eradicating diversity.

Likewise, the war in Gaza has had varying effects on Israel’s international relations. While its enemies have remained the same, steadfast allies seem to be falling by the wayside, and formerly neutral countries have been braying for a cease-fire. Perhaps in no region is the change as stark as in Latin America: Israel faces opposition from Brazil under Lula da Silva, Mexico under Claudia Sheinbaum, Chile under Gabriel Boric, and Colombia under Gustavo Petro, the last of which severed ties with Netanyahu’s government in support of Hamas.

Surprisingly, this is not the case for Paraguay. The small South American nation of 6.2 million, whose vote was crucial for UN approval of Israel’s creation over 76 years ago, remains one of its staunchest supporters. The crowning moment in the relationship will come when the administration of President Santiago Peña moves Paraguay’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Peña, an economist educated at Columbia University and former director of Paraguay’s Central Bank, became the youngest president in the country’s history at 44 in 2023. He aligns Paraguay with other South American supporters of Israel — notably Argentina under President Javier Milei, with whom Peña has an excellent relationship, and Uruguay under Luis Lacalle Pou.

Just a few weeks ago, the three leaders gathered in Argentina for an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, AMIA — the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in South American history. The image of the three presidents underscored the solidarity of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay with the Jewish People.

At that event, President Santiago Peña declared in a speech that electrified social media that he would be moving Paraguay’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “These are not times for the faint of heart; we must take a stand. And with this gesture, Paraguay demonstrates it is on the right side of the great Jewish People’s history. We are deeply concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in all its forms worldwide. This manifests not only in acts of violence against the Jewish People but also in the distortion of facts that aim to deny Israel’s legitimate right to take measures to preserve its existence in the face of constant and persistent threats. Hence, the great Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges taught us that in the face of every act of anti-Semitism, we must all say, ‘I am Jewish.’ So, in the face of each act of anti-Semitism, allow me to say, ‘I am Jewish.’ ”

Understanding Peña’s strong stand requires insight into two internal factors at play in Paraguay. First, the country’s partisan politics: Peña leads the Colorado Party that has governed for 70 of the last 75 years, continuing the legacy of former president Horacio Cartes, who originally announced the embassy move in 2018. Cartes’s successor, Mario Abdo Martínez, reversed that decision, causing Israel to close its own embassy in Paraguay. Now, under Peña’s leadership, relations have warmed once again.

Second, Paraguay’s deeply religious population, predominantly Catholic, is very respectful of its small Jewish community of around 1,000 and largely supports the embassy move. By contrast, Javier Milei’s desire to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem has met with domestic political opposition.

President Peña aims to boost Paraguay’s economic potential and attract foreign investment by aligning the country with conservative Western nations, and his support for Israel amid conflict is a prime example.

In an exclusive interview with Mishpacha, President Peña discussed Paraguay’s future embassy move and his views on Middle Eastern affairs. He emphasized that Paraguay should not just be a friend to Israel but its “best friend in the region.”

Your announcement that Paraguay will finally move its embassy to Jerusalem took many by surprise. Can you provide some context for this decision?

This is not a sudden decision. To understand it, one must grasp a bit of Paraguayan history. Although it seems surprising, the reality is that there is a strong bond between Paraguay, Israel, and the Jewish People. This connection goes back centuries — in 1864, Paraguay experienced an invasion and genocide during the War of the Triple Alliance. In this war, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay secretly conspired to eliminate Paraguay and its people. The war lasted six years and had a devastating impact —two-thirds of the overall population and 90 percent of the male population perished.

This led to a slow recovery process, and over these 160 years, we have healed our wounds, but our collective memory remains vivid. Thus, when we witness anti-Semitism, it strikes a deep chord with us, as we have experienced similar suffering. This is why Paraguay cast a decisive vote for the creation of the State of Israel in the historic UN vote. Our vote was pivotal, and we have always maintained a close relationship with the Jewish People.

Additionally, during Paraguay’s colonization by the Spanish and the arrival of Jesuit missions, which were centered in our country, Paraguayans developed a profound faith. We are devout Catholics, but as Pope John Paul II said, Jews are our elder brothers. So we feel a deep connection.

Did you discuss this move with Israeli authorities?

This strong bond with Israel led me to visit the country in 2021, where I had the opportunity to speak with Binyamin Netanyahu. I told him that if I became president (this was before the elections), I was committed to moving the embassy to Jerusalem. If Israel says its capital is Jerusalem, who are we to say otherwise?

I reaffirmed this position on many occasions, including last year at the UN, and Israel committed to reopening its embassy in Asunción. We expect this to happen in August. We aim to relocate our embassy to Jerusalem as soon as possible.

Argentinean president Javier Milei also promised to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem during his campaign. However, he faced opposition in the Senate in Buenos Aires, delaying the move. Did you encounter any opposition to your decision?

No. This sentiment is broadly supported by the Paraguayan population. Of course, some Arab immigrants and small groups might prefer that it not happen, but Paraguayans in general are devout and have a strong spiritual connection to the Jewish People.

One common criticism of relocating embassies to Jerusalem is the perceived security risk, since they become potential targets for terrorist attacks. Are you not afraid of possible reprisals?

I am not afraid. As president of Paraguay, I bear this responsibility on behalf of all Paraguayans. After discussing these issues for many years, I am convinced that this is the majority sentiment. Risks always exist. Paraguay has faced difficult times. We are in a region that can be complicated, but we have chosen not to live in fear. This leads us to make bold decisions, even when they are risky.

For example, we have maintained relations with Taiwan. We are the only South American country recognizing Taiwan, despite its precarious position with China. This decision, part of our collective memory, shows that facing risks can make a nation stronger. This is the path for Paraguay, similar to Israel and Taiwan, which, despite their challenging regions, play significant roles internationally. This is what I envision for my country.

Israel is in an extremely delicate situation after the tragic events of October 7. What are your thoughts on the conflict with Hamas?

First, the October 7 attack was cowardly and deserves international condemnation. Second, Israel has every right to defend itself vigorously. The multilateral system, designed post-World War II, is failing. It does not resolve conflicts, evidenced by nearly 50 military conflicts worldwide, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The multilateral system is not functioning.

The conflict with Hamas in Gaza is longstanding. Attempts at a two-state solution have not succeeded, so Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself against future attacks. Equating Israel’s democratically elected government with a terrorist group like Hamas is absurd. Paraguay designated Hamas a terrorist group over five years ago, so our stance is clear.

This stance puts you at odds with other regional leaders...

Yes, it clashes with leaders in Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. But my conviction is deeply rooted in centuries of shared history between our peoples.

What is your relationship with Paraguay’s Jewish community?

It is a relatively small community, not publicly prominent. I have many friends and even relatives within the community, and I hold them in great affection. They greatly value our support for Israel and the embassy move.

In these times, don’t you think it’s politically risky to be an ally of Israel?

I don’t want Paraguay to be just an ally. I want it to be Israel’s best friend.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1022)