III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 685 

Welcoming President Santiago Pen ̃a of Paraguay and commemorating the 

bilateral relationship between the Republic of Paraguay and the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 14, 2024 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CASSIDY, and Mr. 

MERKLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Welcoming President Santiago Pen ̃a of Paraguay and commemorating the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Paraguay and the United States. 

Whereas 2024 marks 163 years of official bilateral relations 

between the United States and the Republic of Paraguay; 

Whereas the shared values of democracy and the rule of law 

have always underpinned the bilateral relationship starting with the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation of 1859, done at Washington March 12, 1860; 

Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed an especially strong partnership since Paraguay’s transition to 

a democratically elected civilian government in 1989; 

Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed bilateral economic cooperation, especially under the United 


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•SRES 685 IS 

States-Paraguay Trade and Investment Framework 

Agreement, done at Washington January 13, 2017; 

Whereas the Parana River accounts for 80 percent of Paraguay’s trade and is a lifeline to many communities; 

Whereas the United States Senate appreciates mutual collaboration with Paraguay across many sectors, including 

supporting United States businesses operating in Paraguay and $2,400,000,000 in trade in goods; 

Whereas the United States is the second largest foreign investor in Paraguay, with hundreds of millions of dollars 

in foreign direct investment in Paraguay; 

Whereas the United States has strongly supported and will 

continue to support democratic institutions, the rule of 

law, and economic opportunity in Paraguay, including 

working collaboratively to tackle corruption and support 

indigenous peoples, afro-descendants, and youth in Paraguay; 

Whereas the Governments of Paraguay and the United States 

have effectively partnered to address shared priorities 

across the hemisphere, including countering human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, and 

other illicit cross-border activities, as well as increasing 

cooperation in security and defense, cybersecurity, and 

promoting exchange programs; 

Whereas Paraguay and the United States are aligned on key 

foreign policy priorities beyond the hemisphere; 

Whereas Paraguay joined the United States and other democratic-oriented countries in key multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion of 

Ukraine; 


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•SRES 685 IS 

Whereas Paraguay has maintained a consistent and uninterrupted diplomatic relationship with Taiwan based on 

shared democratic values; 

Whereas, alongside the United States, the Government of 

Paraguay has consistently supported Israel’s right to selfdefense; 

Whereas the people and the Government of the United States 

celebrates the bilateral relationship with Paraguay and 

encourage a continuing close relationship; 

Whereas Paraguayans in the United States have contributed 

and enriched American culture and have become an important part of United States society; and 

Whereas President Santiago Pen ̃a was elected President of 

Paraguay in April 2023 in free and fair elections: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) welcomes the visit of President Santiago 

3 Pen ̃a; 

4 (2) commemorates 163 years of official diplo5 matic relations between the United States and the 

6 Republic of Paraguay; 

7 (3) recognizes the historical partnership be8 tween the United States and Paraguay rooted in 

9 shared values of democracy and the rule of law; 

10 (4) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the 

11 Governments of the United States and Paraguay to 

12 address pressing issues across the hemisphere; 


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•SRES 685 IS 

1 (5) calls on the Department of State, the 

2 United States International Development Corpora3 tion, and the United States Agency For Inter4 national Development to support efforts to improve 

5 the navigability of the Parana River through dredg6 ing and port modernization; 

7 (6) expresses support for continuing to work to8 wards shared foreign policy priorities; and 

9 (7) celebrates the contributions that Para10 guayans and Paraguayan-Americans have made in 

11 the United States. 

Æ 


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