Paraguay

Madam President of the General Assembly, Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Esteemed Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I. The profound crisis we face

This is my third address to the United Nations General Assembly. It is, without doubt, an enormous privilege and honor to represent Paraguay at this great forum, a country that may seem geographically small, but is a giant in spirit and potential.

That is why, flying to New York from far away, I thought of beginning this speech by expressing the joy I feel at having the opportunity to tell you about the great things that await Paraguay.

However, the events that have occurred in recent days make this simply impossible.

Instead, I must painfully begin by recalling the anecdote of the great German historian Theodor Mommsen, who, upon receiving the Nobel Prize in 1903, asked his audience not to applaud after his acceptance speech: "The times," he said sorrowfully, "are too grave for that."

The following years would fully confirm his intuition.

I believe exactly the same can be said now. Indeed, in these days we have seen that evil, radical ideologization, intolerance, are unfortunately real, and are rooted in certain sectors of our societies.

I am still shocked, and also sad and grieved, by the shocking images of two cowardly and incomprehensible political attacks. First, intolerance, hatred, took the life of a great human being, Miguel Uribe, the Colombian presidential pre-candidate, who was assassinated in public during a walk through a plaza. The ghosts of violence, which we thought were a thing of the past for our Colombian brothers and sisters. Second, we saw that a young dreamer, Charlie Kirk, was miserably torn from his wife and two children for a single sin: defending his convictions and values with great eloquence and courage.

Both, instead of resorting to violence to impose their ideas, resorted to the most civic and peaceful method possible: free, open, frank debate—without avoiding controversial positions—but always within a framework of respect.

The ominous, macabre response must awaken us from our drowsy state of complacency.

Dear friends,

Our values, our very way of life, are in danger. The idea of democracy, the venerable and brilliant creation of the Greek genius that allows us a peaceful modus vivendi despite our differences, is at risk.

That is why, in times when darkness seeks to extinguish the light, we must take positions.

This is not a time for the timid, ladies and gentlemen: either we are on the right side, of peace and reason, or we are with violence and intolerance.

Our children and grandchildren will not forget what attitude we took in the face of the enormous challenge we face.

That is why I want to be very clear with you: political violence is immoral, intolerable and profoundly harmful. We must reject it without nuance. That is why, let us say it loud and clear: no to hatred, no to violence, no to authoritarianism!

We must not underestimate the gravity of what is happening. These are not isolated cases: they are patterns. And the situation has been worsening under the impassive gaze of governments and political movements.

Polarization and extremism, previously revealed subtly in texts and speeches, are today materializing in real acts of violence. There is a crisis of belief in institutions: citizens no longer trust.

Our democracy, that democracy which for decades has been the guarantee of the most fundamental rights of the human being, embodied in that magnificent instrument that is the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights"—an imperishable achievement of the United Nations system—is besieged from all quarters and spectrums, both from the left and the right.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, may be a point of no return.

II. Venezuela and Nicaragua

This crisis situation is the perfect breeding ground for authoritarianism. Where democratic values erode, authoritarianism—or its perverse twin brother, populism—takes its place.

Paraguay views with enormous concern the restrictions on the exercise of fundamental rights, such as access to free information and freedom of expression in some brotherly countries, which are already palpable demonstrations that the crisis is real and profound.

Thus, unfortunately, the situation in Venezuela has become truly alarming. To the systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms are added actions contrary to international law and the persecution of political leaders.

The electoral process of July 2024 trampled the will of the Venezuelan people.

Seven million Venezuelans have left their homeland—the largest migration crisis in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

In Nicaragua, on the other hand, the persecution of political opponents persists and is aggressively expanding. The human rights and fundamental guarantees situation is too serious. They have expelled entire religious orders. They have stripped hundreds of Nicaraguans of their nationality whose only crime was to dissent. Even the Catholic Church is persecuted—something unthinkable in Latin America.

Paraguay knows, better than anyone, the calamity of authoritarianism and dictatorship, for we lived through the longest military regime on the continent in the twentieth century, whose scars have still not fully healed.

That is why we cannot, and must not, remain silent while our Latin American brothers and sisters suffer the same oppression that has scarred our past.

The crisis of democracy, friends, is not resolved with an iron fist, nor with censorship, nor with authoritarianism, and much less with violence. We must resist these appealing impostors.

Crises of democracy, as the Italian philosopher Norberto Bobbio said, are resolved in only one way: with more democracy.

Not with authoritarian puppets, nor with hatred or intolerance. We must respond with more democracy, more republic, more tolerance, more dialogue, more rights, more freedom.

III. Armed conflicts, collapse of supply chains, China

The reason for being, the essence of the United Nations is and will be the maintenance of peace. However, while we meet here, more than 120 armed conflicts show us how grave the failure of our institutions can be. Paraguay extends its solidarity with all victims of armed conflicts and advocates, once again, for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

I particularly highlight today the painful situation in Haiti. The moment for decisive and coordinated action by the United Nations and, especially, the Security Council, is now; Paraguay knows this and is ready to help the Haitian people, who can no longer wait.

On the other hand, I want to highlight a situation that goes beyond armed conflicts, but which is of equal gravity. We face a silent but devastating crisis: the collapse of global supply chains. The pandemic showed us how fragile they were. The war in Ukraine strained them even further. And now, geopolitical fragmentation threatens to break them definitively.

The world urgently needs more reliable, more diversified, more resilient supply chains. We cannot continue depending on systems that place efficiency above security, cost above reliability.

I want to be clear: not all trade partnerships are equal.

We must be careful with deceptive economic models that come accompanied by political authoritarianism, mass surveillance and the erosion of fundamental freedoms.

When we accept investments that compromise our sovereignty, when we allow our critical infrastructure to depend on authoritarian regimes, we are mortgaging not only our economy, but our democracy.

That is why we advocate for deeper integration among our countries, based not only on trade, but on shared values: the rule of law, individual freedoms, a free market economy, the defense of the traditional family and the right to life from the conception of the human being.

That is why Paraguay's foreign policy is not based on pure interests, but on these shared values and principles.

IV. Israel

For these reasons, Paraguay cannot and must not avoid the realities that challenge world peace. Diplomatic prudence cannot become silent complicity. It is precisely in these moments when the principles that define us as a democratic nation must translate into clear and unequivocal positions with our friends and allies.

Paraguay reaffirms here its unambiguous position: Israel has the legitimate right to defend itself.

The terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023 against Israeli civilians were grotesque acts of barbarity that no cause can justify. We reject any attempt to equate, in a biased manner, the responsibility between the democratically elected authorities of Israel and the leaders of the terrorist group Hamas.

Antisemitism, ladies and gentlemen, as daily events demonstrate, is not an accident of the twentieth century: it is alive and strong. It is part of that cycle of irrational violence and hatred I spoke of at the beginning of my remarks. I must confess here that I have never understood how so many people have adopted this horrible worldview, given that the Jewish people have given so much materially, culturally and spiritually to the world. And yet, unfortunately, this perversion remains among us.

The only response is to be alert: no to hatred! Shoah, never again!

That is why Paraguay has been one of the first countries in the world to designate both Hezbollah and Hamas as international terrorist organizations and has always deeply censured their evil actions. I decisively condemn these criminal organizations once again today before all of you.

My country will continue to oppose those who deny the sacred value of human life, a fundamental idea in the Paraguayan vision of the human being.

We also make an urgent call for the implementation of a solution that alleviates the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory, ends the violence and guarantees the immediate release of the hostages, promoting a constructive dialogue that leads toward peaceful coexistence between both peoples and is a source of lasting peace in the Middle East region.

V. Taiwan

Paraguay's principled diplomacy, based on conviction and not mere convenience, also explains the moral firmness we have regarding another democracy facing existential threats. Consistency in defending democratic values does not allow for selective geographies or calculations of convenience. Principles, when genuine, are sustained by their intrinsic value, not by their political profitability.

Paraguay proudly maintains 67 years of diplomatic relations with the Republic of China–Taiwan. This friendship, forged in shared democratic values, has demonstrated that cooperation between nations can be based on more than mere interest. This decision surely costs us a great deal economically, but believe me: the value of doing the right thing has no price.

The growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait deeply concern us. The increasingly aggressive military exercises, the constant air incursions, the belligerent rhetoric: everything points toward a dangerous escalation that could destabilize not only Asia, but the entire global order.

Ladies and gentlemen:

It must be said without being lukewarm or fainthearted: Taiwan deserves a place in this forum. It is a matter of strict justice.

Its exclusion from the United Nations system is an affront that weakens the legitimacy of our institutions. Twenty-three million decent, hardworking and dignified people cannot continue to be invisible to multilateralism.

Ladies and gentlemen, as in other cases, the question of Taiwan and its international status must also, inescapably, be part of the debates of this General Assembly.

It is time to cut this tree of injustice off at the root—it has already been growing for decades—and give China Taiwan a place in the United Nations.

VI. Paraguay and its role as a middle power

These principled positions, based on convictions and not conveniences, give Paraguay something relatively scarce these days: genuine moral authority to discuss the problems that afflict us.

In this context of global crisis, Paraguay reaffirms itself as a middle power, with a central role in building consensus and strengthening the multilateral system.

The facts back up our words: Paraguay proceeds with a characteristic constructive spirit in the debates of the multilateral system. In line with this active role, my country is currently a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and we have national experts on the Tribunal of the Sea, the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Narcotics Control Board and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, among others. In the 2026–2027 period, we aspire to the Chairmanship of the Bureau of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly and we will assume the responsibility of being members of the Peacebuilding Commission.

Dear friends,

Paraguay is standing and ready to take its place in the concert of nations, not as a mere peripheral voice, but as a true leading actor in the search for solutions to global problems.

That is why Paraguay accepts and commits to the objectives proposed in the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative, which include seeking greater efficiency in the use of existing resources, the simplification of processes and the review of the implementation of mandates.

That is why Paraguay demands the implementation of geographic balance in the appointment of the next Secretary-General, to strengthen the legitimacy and representativeness of this Organization.

In that process, we are convinced, our region should be considered, as it has candidacies that meet the highest standards of experience, integrity, vision and, above all, leadership to build bridges that help us overcome challenges with global impact and systemic risk.

That is why Paraguay demands the profound reform of the Security Council, to prevent it from becoming dispensable within a multilateralism that needs to provide solutions to the numerous current conflicts, both those between states and those caused by non-state actors.

That is why we ask here for more flexible positions so that the Security Council can once again be truly representative in its membership and regain effectiveness in fulfilling its mission.

That is why we demand the elimination of the veto, which will give greater legitimacy to the body and allow the UN, as a universal organization, to once again be a protagonist in determining solutions to the great challenges facing our world.

VIII. It is possible to look to the future with optimism

Madam President, distinguished delegates:

I know the picture I have presented so far is not the best, indeed it is grim. But I have preferred to speak with the truth, without beating around the bush, so as not to underestimate the gravity of our current situation.

And yet, being an optimist at heart, I cannot help but say it: I look to the future with hope.

As the great writer William Faulkner said, I believe that "mankind will not merely endure, it will prevail."

With all our flaws, when we work together, when we put solidarity above separatism, dialogue above violence, tolerance above hatred, humanity is capable of great things.

Building the future is not possible by mere wishful thinking. Building the future requires intention, persistence, constancy and discipline. I always say, and I repeat it today: there are no shortcuts to development—there is only hard work.

But words alone are no longer enough. Our peoples are tired of empty promises, of grandiloquent declarations that do not translate into bread on the table, into safety on the streets, into education for their children. As in any relationship whose trust has been broken, the key to recovering it is to show results.

Democracy must prove that it can deliver. That it can generate prosperity. That it can ensure justice. That it can offer hope. That it can be a democracy with a human face, with social content, like the one defended by the great ideologues of my political movement, such as Ignacio A. Pane, Juan León Mallorquín, and Fulgencio R. Moreno.

All this has been demonstrated by my Party in government of Paraguay over recent decades: that it is possible to grow economically with justice, with democracy and with human rights.

IX. Paraguay: macroeconomic figures, reforms, social programs

I do not say this with arrogance, but with the humility that characterizes us Paraguayans. A humility born of a history of greatness, but also of suffering. We Paraguayans know the eternal cycle of rebirth: rise, crisis, tragedy. We have had to reinvent ourselves and rise from the ashes. And in that noble process we built the Paraguay that today, finally, is being recognized for what it is: a giant resurging.

While the world stumbles, we are building something different. A model that works. A model that generates trust because it generates results.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• We had economic growth of 5.9% in the first quarter of 2025, while the region averages barely 2%.
• Our inflation is under control at 4.2%, below the regional average.
• We are advancing firmly toward post-pandemic fiscal convergence. Our fiscal deficit returns to 1.5% in next year's national budget.
• Our unemployment is falling to historic lows: 5.6% in the first quarter of this year.

But growth without social justice is empty. That is why we implement ambitious programs that are transforming lives:

Our "Zero Hunger in Schools" program feeds more than one million children daily in 7,000 schools. "Che Roga Porã" is turning thousands of working families into homeowners. For the first time, the State offers mortgage loans with installments equivalent to rent. We are transforming a monthly expense into family wealth.

I highlight that 118,000 people rose out of poverty in a single year. Extreme poverty fell to 4.1%, the lowest level in our modern history.

But none of this would be possible without solid institutions. That is why we undertook bold reforms:

• We pushed forward the Civil Service Law to professionalize the public function, ending decades of clientelism.
• With the Integrity and Transparency Law, we created real mechanisms of control and accountability, strengthening the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic.
• We approved the National Unified Registry Law, a law that proposes a structural transformation and, after more than a hundred years, brings order to real estate property in Paraguay.

The result: in July 2024, Paraguay achieved investment grade status for the first time in its history.

Distinguished delegates, the Paraguayan model is not perfect. Of course not. We have enormous challenges and much remains to be done. But we are changing reality. We are demonstrating that, today, Paraguay is not just "a country." As the President of the International Automobile Federation, Mohammed ben Sulayem, put it, Paraguay is "the country."

XI. Closing

Madam President, distinguished delegates:

I began this speech with some rather dark warnings about the state of global democracy and our societies. The times are grave and there is much to worry about.

But I do not want to end on a pessimistic note: a different, better, brighter future is possible. It depends on us. On all of us. On diagnosing the problems with courage, and confronting them with perseverance and conviction.

The future is not predetermined. Paraguay is living proof that, even amid the chaos and desolation of war, it is possible to rebuild. It is possible to reconcile prosperity with justice, growth with sustainability, openness with sovereignty.

Paraguay is ready, dear friends, to be part of the solution. The sleeping giant of South America has awakened and is resurging with strength.

We are ready to be a central protagonist in the fight for the great values of humanity, to be a leading actor in the concert of nations.

Because we believe in a future where democracy not only survives, but flourishes; because we believe in a future where development reaches everyone, not just a few; because we believe in a future where cooperation is based on shared values, not on convenience; because we believe in a future where trust is earned with results, not with rhetoric; because we believe, indeed, that humanity will not merely endure, but will prevail.

That different future is possible. We Paraguayans are building it every day. I invite you to build it with us, all together, to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren—a world with more democracy, more freedom, more tolerance, more justice.

A world in which hope defeats pessimism, light triumphs over darkness, and good wins out—forever and always—over evil.

Thank you very much.