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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

October 30, 2025

Where Are Relations Heading Between the U.S. and Paraguay?

Amid warm bilateral relations, the United States lifted sanctions this month against former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes, pictured in 2017. // File Photo: Ecuadorean Government via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0.

Q

  • The U.S. government on Oct. 6 removed former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes from its list of individuals subject to financial sanctions, reversing a 2022 designation that was tied to corruption allegations against Cartes. The news came amid warm relations between the governments of U.S. President Donald Trump and incumbent Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, a close ally of Cartes. Why did the Trump administration revoke sanctions against Cartes? What does the move signify about the direction of U.S.-Paraguay relations under Trump and Peña? How could the decision to remove Cartes from the U.S. sanctions list affect the credibility and effectiveness of U.S. penalties against government officials accused of corruption?

A

Sebastián Acha, senior advisor at Pragma Grupo Consultor and executive director at Pro Desarrollo Paraguay: “The Trump administration’s decision to remove former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes from the U.S. sanctions list marks a turning point in bilateral relations between Washington and Asunción. Politically, the move can be interpreted as a gesture of support for President Santiago Peña and as a sign that Washington is prioritizing stability and cooperation with Paraguay. It is clear that this decision is not a ‘unilateral concession.’ One could assume that—at the very least—one of Paraguay’s reciprocal gestures was the signing of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). In retrospect, a different outcome would have been difficult to imagine. The controversy surrounding Cartes’ designation emerged during Paraguay’s 2023 presidential campaign, creating…”

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