# Foreign relations of Paraguay

Paraguayan foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its neighbors, and it has been an active proponent of regional co-operation. It is a member of the United Nations and has served one term in the UN Security Council in 1967-1969. It maintains membership in several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It also belongs to the Organization of American States, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market) and UNASUR.
At the political level, diplomatic affairs and international relations of Paraguay are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, which answers to the executive branch of the government. Minister of Foreign Relations 2018 -2019 was Luis Alberto Castiglioni.
Unlike any other country in South America, Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China instead of the People's Republic of China. Paraguay presently is the largest country maintaining official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China.

## Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Paraguay maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | Mexico | 3 June 1831 |
| 2 | Argentina | 28 December 1842 |
| 3 | Chile | 22 July 1843 |
| 4 | Brazil | 14 September 1844 |
| 5 | Uruguay | 1 January 1846 |
| 6 | Portugal | 14 February 1846 |
| 7 | France | 18 May 1853 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 4 March 1853 |
| 9 | United States | 26 November 1861 |
| 10 | Italy | 1867 |
| 11 | Colombia | 27 July 1870 |
| — | Holy See | 31 December 1877 |
| 12 | Bolivia | 15 October 1879 |
| 13 | Spain | 10 September 1880 |
| 14 | Ecuador | 15 December 1880 |
| 15 | El Salvador | 1880 |
| 16 | Peru | 18 June 1881 |
| 17 | Serbia | 17 February 1883 |
| 18 | Costa Rica | 1883 |
| — | Venezuela (suspended) | 7 August 1891 |
| 19 | Switzerland | 27 June 1892 |
| 20 | Belgium | 15 February 1894 |
| 21 | Dominican Republic | 18 February 1902 |
| 22 | Netherlands | 9 November 1903 |
| 23 | Norway | 2 April 1906 |
| 24 | Guatemala | 1 May 1907 |
| 25 | Japan | 17 November 1919 |
| 26 | Cuba | 16 March 1920 |
| 27 | Poland | 2 May 1920 |
| 28 | Sweden | 24 February 1923 |
| 29 | Austria | 19 August 1927 |
| 30 | Czech Republic | 14 February 1936 |
| 31 | Panama | 31 October 1942 |
| 32 | Israel | 5 December 1950 |
| 33 | Honduras | 8 February 1952 |
| 34 | Germany | 1 October 1952 |
| 35 | Turkey | 11 September 1953 |
| 36 | Denmark | 1 December 1953 |
| 37 | Nicaragua | 18 January 1956 |
| 38 | Haiti | 2 October 1956 |
| — | Republic of China | 8 July 1957 |
| 39 | Lebanon | 12 May 1958 |
| 40 | Egypt | 1959 |
| 41 | India | 13 September 1961 |
| 42 | South Korea | 12 June 1962 |
| 43 | Canada | 5 July 1962 |
| 44 | Philippines | 12 December 1962 |
| 45 | Thailand | 17 December 1962 |
| 46 | Finland | 20 November 1963 |
| 47 | Morocco | 1964 |
| 48 | Luxembourg | 26 February 1965 |
| 49 | Pakistan | 23 October 1967 |
| 50 | South Africa | 3 April 1974 |
| 51 | Australia | 2 December 1974 |
| 52 | Indonesia | 29 November 1981 |
| 53 | Nigeria | 27 May 1988 |
| 54 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 22 June 1989 |
| 55 | Malaysia | 17 November 1989 |
| 56 | Hungary | 2 May 1991 |
| 57 | Slovenia | 25 February 1992 |
| 58 | Croatia | 13 March 1992 |
| 59 | Russia | 14 May 1992 |
| 60 | Romania | 28 May 1992 |
| 61 | Latvia | 3 June 1992 |
| 62 | Armenia | 2 July 1992 |
| 63 | Estonia | 2 July 1992 |
| 64 | Ivory Coast | 28 July 1992 |
| 65 | Albania | 29 July 1992 |
| 66 | Belize | 2 November 1992 |
| 67 | Jamaica | 10 November 1992 |
| 68 | Belarus | 18 November 1992 |
| 69 | Suriname | 20 November 1992 |
| 70 | Bulgaria | 2 December 1992 |
| 71 | Singapore | 10 December 1992 |
| 72 | Slovakia | 8 January 1993 |
| 73 | New Zealand | 17 February 1993 |
| 74 | Iran | 19 February 1993 |
| 75 | Kuwait | 23 February 1993 |
| 76 | Ukraine | 26 February 1993 |
| 77 | Lithuania | 3 March 1993 |
| 78 | Seychelles | 23 April 1993 |
| 79 | Barbados | 27 May 1993 |
| 80 | Saint Lucia | 18 June 1993 |
| 81 | Cameroon | 3 December 1993 |
| 82 | Guyana | 14 April 1994 |
| 83 | Trinidad and Tobago | 24 May 1994 |
| 84 | Cambodia | 27 October 1994 |
| 85 | Algeria | 3 February 1995 |
| 86 | Andorra | 23 March 1995 |
| 87 | Vietnam | 30 May 1995 |
| 88 | Greece | 27 September 1995 |
| 89 | Brunei | 8 April 1996 |
| 90 | Mozambique | 3 October 1997 |
| — | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (suspended) | 9 February 2000 |
| 91 | Ireland | 15 May 2001 |
| 92 | Uzbekistan | 27 August 2001 |
| 93 | Cyprus | 8 October 2001 |
| 94 | Qatar | 8 November 2002 |
| 95 | San Marino | 3 April 2003 |
| 96 | Mongolia | 17 June 2003 |
| 97 | Iceland | 17 March 2004 |
| 98 | Azerbaijan | 20 April 2004 |
| 99 | Malta | 8 July 2004 |
| 100 | Kazakhstan | 20 September 2004 |
| 101 | Syria | 13 December 2004 |
| — | State of Palestine | 26 March 2005 |
| 102 | Bahrain | 6 May 2005 |
| 103 | Sudan | 11 May 2005 |
| 104 | Laos | 28 September 2005 |
| 105 | Equatorial Guinea | 3 November 2005 |
| 106 | Jordan | 15 November 2005 |
| 107 | Oman | 15 November 2005 |
| 108 | Namibia | 17 April 2006 |
| 109 | Nepal | 2 August 2006 |
| 110 | Tajikistan | 30 August 2006 |
| 111 | Republic of the Congo | 23 March 2007 |
| 112 | Eswatini | 3 April 2007 |
| 113 | Montenegro | 5 June 2007 |
| 114 | Angola | 21 June 2007 |
| 115 | United Arab Emirates | 13 July 2007 |
| 116 | Botswana | 16 July 2007 |
| 117 | North Macedonia | 26 October 2007 |
| 118 | Benin | 18 February 2009 |
| 119 | Sri Lanka | 3 April 2009 |
| 120 | Saudi Arabia | 9 July 2009 |
| 121 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 22 September 2009 |
| 122 | Kenya | 25 September 2009 |
| 123 | Georgia | 9 March 2010 |
| 124 | Senegal | March 2010 |
| 125 | Eritrea | March 2010 |
| 126 | Gambia | 23 April 2010 |
| 127 | Burkina Faso | 18 May 2010 |
| 128 | Uganda | 18 June 2010 |
| 129 | Mali | 25 June 2010 |
| 130 | Djibouti | 22 July 2010 |
| 131 | Maldives | 28 September 2010 |
| 132 | Mauritius | 28 September 2010 |
| 133 | Zambia | 28 September 2010 |
| 134 | Ethiopia | 29 September 2010 |
| 135 | Fiji | 22 December 2010 |
| 136 | Burundi | 2010 |
| 137 | Niger | 2010 |
| 138 | Samoa | 28 January 2011 |
| 139 | Libya | 9 February 2011 |
| 140 | Liechtenstein | 6 April 2011 |
| 141 | Solomon Islands | 4 May 2011 |
| 142 | Moldova | 5 May 2011 |
| 143 | Tuvalu | 2 June 2011 |
| 144 | Zimbabwe | 29 March 2012 |
| 145 | Kyrgyzstan | 23 May 2012 |
| 146 | Mauritania | 5 June 2012 |
| 147 | Monaco | 14 June 2012 |
| 148 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 22 March 2013 |
| 149 | Dominica | 5 March 2015 |
| 150 | Antigua and Barbuda | 21 September 2016 |
| 151 | Grenada | 21 September 2016 |
| 152 | Papua New Guinea | 21 September 2016 |
| 153 | Turkmenistan | 28 July 2017 |
| 154 | Federated States of Micronesia | 11 October 2018 |
| 155 | Tunisia | 1 November 2018 |
| 156 | Marshall Islands | 26 September 2019 |
| 157 | Guinea | 15 June 2021 |
| 158 | Ghana | 17 June 2021 |
| 159 | Kiribati | 20 October 2021 |
| 160 | Palau | 1 April 2022 |
| 161 | Timor-Leste | 18 September 2022 |
| 162 | Bangladesh | 24 October 2022 |
| 163 | Rwanda | 18 April 2023 |
| 164 | Guinea-Bissau | 13 July 2023 |
| 165 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 13 July 2023 |

## Bilateral relations
### Africa

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Egypt | | Egypt is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay. |
| SADR | 2000-02-09 | Paraguay recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In January 2014, Paraguay officially suspends its relations with Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. |
| South Africa | | Paraguay has an embassy in Pretoria. The South African Embassy at Asunción was closed in December 1996 and the Resident Ambassador to Argentina was subsequently appointed non-Resident Ambassador to Paraguay. South African also has an honorary consulate in Asuncion. Both countries are full members of the Cairns Group and G20. In April 1974, the then president of Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner made a five-day state visit to South Africa. Paraguay was given a $20 million loan for agricultural development and agreements were signed on economic cooperation. Gen. Stroessner became known as an ally of apartheid South Africa. Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with South Africa Archived 2007-10-05 at the Wayback Machine South African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Paraguay |

### Americas

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Argentina | 1811 | See Argentina–Paraguay relations Argentina has an embassy in Asunción and consulates-general in Asunción, Ciudad del Este and Encarnación). Paraguay has an embassy in Buenos Aires and consulates in Clorinda, Corrientes, Formosa, Posadas, Resistencia, Rosario and Puerto Iguazú. |
| Bolivia | | See Bolivia–Paraguay relations In 2009 Bolivian President Evo Morales and Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo signed an agreement settling a border dispute, which had led to the Chaco War in the 1930s. President Lugo expressed the hope that natural resources could now "be developed and used by both countries" Relations, as with many countries in the area, have had increased tension since the Paraguay impeachment in 2012. Bolivia has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in La Paz and consulate-general in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. |
| Brazil | | See Brazil–Paraguay relations Border of Brazil and Paraguay Paraguay–Brazil relations have improved greatly after Brazilian President Lula's decision in 2009 to triple its payments to Paraguay for energy from a massive hydro-electric dam on their border, ending a long-running dispute. Under the accord, Brazil will pay Paraguay $360m a year for energy from the jointly-operated Itaipu plant. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called it a "historic agreement" and the deal slated as a political victory for former Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo. In February 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro praised the late military strongman of Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner, calling him "a man of vision." Bolsonaro made the comments during a ceremony at the Itaipu hydroelectric dam on the countries' shared border. At his side was his close ally, Paraguayan right-wing President Mario Abdo Benitez. Brazil has an embassy in Asunción and maintains several consulates throughout the country. Paraguay has an embassy in Brasília and maintains several consulates throughout the country. |
| Canada | | Canada is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay has an embassy in on Slatter street in Ottawa. |
| Colombia | | See Colombia–Paraguay relations, List of ambassadors of Paraguay to Colombia Colombia has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Bogotá. |
| Mexico | 18 April 1881 | See Mexico–Paraguay relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 18, 1881. Mexico has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Mexico City. |
| Peru | 2 May 1858 | See Paraguay–Peru relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 2, 1858. Paraguay has an embassy in Lima. Peru has an embassy in Asunción. and an honorary consulate in Ciudad del Este. Both countries are full members of the Rio Group, of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, of the Organization of American States, of the Organization of Ibero-American States and of the Union of South American Nations. Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Relations about the relation with Paraguay (in Spanish only) |
| United States | | See Paraguay–United States relations A military training agreement with Asunción, giving immunity to US soldiers, caused some concern after media reports initially reported that a base housing 20,000 US soldiers was being built at Mariscal Estigarribia within 200 km of Argentina and Bolivia, and 300 km of Brazil, near an airport which could receive large planes (B-52, C-130 Hercules, etc.) which the Paraguayan Air Forces do not have. In September 2009 Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo revoked plans for US troops to hold joint military exercises and development projects after stating that he no longer thinks that hosting troops taking part in the US department of defence's "New Horizons" programme was worthwhile. President Lugo referenced strong regional opposition from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador to the expansion of US military bases in Colombia in his decision. Paraguay has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. United States has an embassy in Asunción. |
| Uruguay | 6 April 1845 | See Paraguay–Uruguay relations Paraguay has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Asunción. |
| Venezuela | | See Paraguay–Venezuela relations Relations between Paraguay and Venezuela improved during Paraguay's leftist President Fernando Lugo (2008-2012), a change from 61 unbroken years of Colorado party rule. President Lugo supported Venezuela's entry into Mercosur however the Colorado Party's influence in Paraguay's Congress and Senate retarded this expansion. Paraguay and Venezuela restarted negotiations on an unpaid debt of $250 million owed by Paraguayan oil company Petropar to its counterpart Petróleos de Venezuela after the Presidents of Paraguay and Venezuela met to deal with the financing. In January, 2019, Paraguay cut its diplomatic relations with Venezuela, considering the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro illegitimate due to disputed election. Diplomatic relations were re-established on 15 November 2023. |

### Asia

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Armenia | | Armenia is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia. |
| Azerbaijan | 20 April 2004 | See Azerbaijan-Paraguay relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 20, 2004. |
| People's Republic of China | no relations | Paraguay is currently accredited to People's Republic of China through its embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. |
| Republic of China(Taiwan) | 8 July 1957 | See Paraguay–Taiwan relations Paraguay recognizes the Republic of China as the legitimate government of China. Taiwan has an embassy in Asunción and a Consulate-General in Ciudad del Este. Since 1999, Paraguay has had an embassy in Taipei. |
| India | 13 September 1961 | See India–Paraguay relations India is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina and an honorary consulate in Asunción. Since 2005, Paraguay has had an embassy in New Delhi. |
| Japan | 17 November 1919 | See Japan–Paraguay relations Japan has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Tokyo. |
| Mongolia | 2003-06-17 | Mongolia is accredited to Paraguay through its embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. Paraguay is accredited to Mongolia through its embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Mongolia signed a visa-free agreement with Paraguay on 26 September 2019. |
| Saudi Arabia | | Paraguay is accredited to Saudi Arabia from its embassy in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
| South Korea | 15 June 1962 | See Paraguay–South Korea relations Paraguay has an embassy in Seoul. South Korea has an embassy in Asunción. |
| Turkey | 1953 | See Paraguay–Turkey relations Paraguay has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Asuncion. Trade volume between the two countries was 82.1 million USD in 2019 (Paraguay's exports/imports: 35/47.1 million USD). |

### Europe

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Austria | | Austria is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay has an embassy in Vienna. |
| Croatia | 13 March 1992 | Paraguay is represented in Croatia through its embassy in Vienna, Austria. Croatia is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
| Denmark | | Paraguay is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Denmark is represented in Paraguay, through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Denmark also has an honorary consulate in Asunción. |
| France | 1853 | Both countries has diplomatic relations since the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Navigation signed in 1853. France has an embassy in Asunción and an honorary consulate in Ciudad del Este. Paraguay has an embassy in Paris. French Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Paraguay Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with France |
| Germany | 1860 | See Germany–Paraguay relations Germany has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Frankfurt. |
| Greece | | Greece is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay. Paraguay is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy. |
| Iceland | | Iceland is represented in Paraguay by its embassy in Washington, United States. Paraguay is represented in Iceland by its embassy in London, United Kingdom. |
| Italy | | Italy has an embassy in Asunción. Paraguay has an embassy in Rome. |
| Netherlands | | the Netherlands is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay is accredited to the Netherlands from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. |
| Poland | | Paraguay is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany. Poland is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
| Russia | | See Paraguay–Russia relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 14, 1992. Paraguay has an embassy in Moscow. Russia is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and an honorary consulate in Asunción. On September 13, 2007, Russia's acting foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, declared to soon open a resident embassy in Paraguay's capital. Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations |
| Slovenia | | Paraguay is represented in Slovenia through its embassy in Vienna, Austria and has an honorary consulate in Ljubljana. Slovenia is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
| Spain | 10 September 1880 | See Paraguay–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on September 10, 1880. Paraguay has an embassy in Madrid and consulates-general in Barcelona and Málaga. Spain has an embassy in Asunción. Both countries are full members of the Latin Union, of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, and of the Organization of Ibero-American States. Spanish Ministry of Foreign about the relation with Paraguay (in Spanish only) |
| Switzerland | | Switzerland is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay. Paraguay is represented in Switzerland through its embassy in Paris, France |
| United Kingdom | 4 March 1853 | Paraguay established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 March 1853. Paraguay maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Paraguay through its embassy in Asunción. Both countries share common membership of the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement. |

### Oceania

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Australia | | See Australia–Paraguay relations Australia's positive relations with Paraguay are growing. In 2011, Paraguay opened an embassy in Canberra, Australia opened a consulate in Asunción. As agricultural producers and exporters, they work together to achieve fairer international trade in agricultural products through membership of the Cairns Group and cooperation in other multilateral fora. Australia is also increasing its engagement with Paraguay through development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. An increasing number of Paraguayan students are pursuing their education at Australian institutions. Australia is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Paraguay is accredited to Australia from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. |
| New Zealand | | New Zealand is accredited to Paraguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. New Zealand has an Honorary Consulate in Asunción. Paraguay is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Tokyo, Japan. |

## International organizations

Paraguay is a member of the following international organizations:
CAN (associate), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD (also known as the World Bank), ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Rio Group, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO