The Executive Branch issued Decree 3659, ordering the closure of the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Canada. The document was signed by the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, on April 3, based on the note sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the closure of the diplomatic representation in that country.

What does it mean for Canadians who wish to settle in Paraguay?

It is important to note that applicants from Canada can get the international Apostille verification stamp on their documents, as Canada entered the Hague Agreement. Until 2024, Canadian Paraguay residency permit applicants had to verify their documents at the Paraguayan Embassy in Montreal.

President Santiago Peña has added a new diplomatic closure to his administration. The measure was made official by decree 3659, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which justified the decision by alleging a “combination of factors.”

During his electoral campaign, President Peña insisted that one of the pillars of his administration would be to reposition Paraguay in the “Concert of Nations” and increase the country’s international visibility. However, the trend has been the opposite since his inauguration: reduction of diplomatic presence in key scenarios under the argument of austerity and administrative efficiency, according to the El Nacional. In the case of Canada, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the measure seeks to adjust the state budget, alleging criteria of rationalization of expenditure and eventual reorientation of resources towards other institutional priorities.

The decision also implies the termination of Ambassador Raúl Antonio Montiel Gastó’s functions, who until now represented Paraguay before the Canadian Government. The Foreign Ministry did not provide details on the mechanisms to be implemented to give continuity to the bilateral relationship, which had been previously described as “strategic.”

The closure of the Canadian embassy is not a unique or isolated event. It is part of a systematic policy that has reduced the network of Paraguayan embassies in various parts of the world, in an apparent contradiction with the government’s narrative of openness and international insertion. While other countries in the region strengthen their foreign ties as a tool for development, Paraguay opts for a policy of withdrawal that raises doubts about the true objective of its international strategy.

Despite announcements that these embassies could be reopened in the future, the current perception is that Paraguay is blurring its diplomatic presence in important scenarios, which could negatively impact trade and international cooperation.