Paraguay approves defense deal allowing temporary presence of US forces

Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a defense agreement that will allow United States military and civilian personnel to operate temporarily inside the country, marking a significant step in expanding security cooperation between the two nations.

Lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which now awaits the signature of President Santiago Peña before it can take effect. Peña, widely seen as a close ally of US President Donald Trump in Latin America, is expected to sign the deal soon.

The agreement passed comfortably, with 53 deputies voting in favor, eight against and four abstaining out of the chamber’s 80 members. Fifteen lawmakers were absent during the vote.

Originally signed in Washington in December, the treaty creates a legal framework governing the presence of US security personnel in Paraguay. Under the agreement, American forces will be able to enter the country for training programs, joint military exercises and humanitarian assistance missions.

The deal also includes a provision granting the United States criminal jurisdiction over its personnel while they are stationed in Paraguay.

The Paraguayan Senate approved the agreement the week before, though debate there was more contentious. Some senators raised concerns that certain clauses could affect the country’s sovereignty.

One of the most debated elements of the agreement is the legal immunity granted to US troops, which critics say resembles the protections normally given to diplomatic personnel.

“We believe in international cooperation, but we also believe in strong states, respected institutions and real democratic sovereignty,” independent congressman Raúl Benítez said during the debate.

Despite the criticism, Paraguayan officials have defended the agreement as an important tool for strengthening regional security cooperation.

Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano described the treaty as a way to deepen coordination with Washington in addressing transnational organised crime and terrorism.

At the same time, he sought to reassure critics by clarifying that the agreement does not allow the establishment of permanent US military bases in Paraguay.

According to the government, the deal focuses primarily on temporary deployments connected to training and joint operations rather than a long-term military presence.