Paraguay’s president travels to Washington and will meet the CIA director

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña embarked on a short visit to Washington on Wednesday, during which he plans to meet US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe and deliver a keynote speech at the Inter-American Dialogue think tank's annual gala. His trip will last until Friday, with Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez and presidential Civil Cabinet head Javier Giménez joining him.

Peña has confirmed that he will be meeting the CIA director, though he has not provided further details about the meeting. He will also participate in an invitation from George Washington University. The gala event will be held at the Organization of American States headquarters.

Prior to his departure, Peña accompanied US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in the Alto Paraná department on the final day of his official visit to Paraguay. They visited a new military unit established to combat terrorism and organized crime in the Triple Frontier region, which borders Brazil and Argentina, as well as the binational Itaipú dam. Landau is now continuing his tour in Buenos Aires.

Peña has stated that he is an ally of the White House in foreign policy. In January, he signed the founding charter of the Board of Peace, promoted by Donald Trump, alongside Argentine President Javier Milei, with the aim of overseeing the Gaza peace plan. Paraguay is also a member of the Shield of the Americas, a regional security alliance initiated by Washington.