The Santiago Peña administration is moving forward with an investment plan for the Armed Forces that, according to National Defense Minister General Óscar González, breaks a 40-year drought without major acquisitions. "It has been 40 years since the last significant purchases and investments in the Armed Forces," the cabinet official stated, placing the last relevant acquisitions between 1985 and 1986.
Among the purchases already completed are six Super Tucano aircraft, manufactured by Embraer, for US$101.6 million, financed with funds discounted through Itaipu. Four of these aircraft and two refurbished Israeli radars, at a cost of US$1.08 million, are already in operation against illegal flights, primarily the so-called "drug trafficking planes."
The plan also includes the government-to-government acquisition of the U.S.-made TPS-78 radar, valued at US$45.8 million, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027. The system will come with logistical support and training programs. "The command and control system will serve to operate this radar and any future ones that need to be acquired; we cannot acquire them one by one due to the very high cost," González explained.
Last Friday, President Santiago Peña signed into law the bill approving the memorandum of understanding with the United States for the purchase of defense equipment and services. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) provides for cooperation exceeding US$32 million, aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces in the fight against drug trafficking.
Minister González categorically denied that the agreement implies any cession of sovereignty, as claimed by opposition sectors and members of Congress. "The concept of sovereignty has now truly expanded, and for us, the greatest threats to sovereignty are the so-called new threats, which are organized crime and terrorism. And we cannot combat these two facets of criminality unless we have cooperation agreements with other countries," he stated.
The general added that the goal is to prevent domestic criminal groups from imposing their authority over that of the Paraguayan state. "Quite the contrary, this SOFA agreement will help us maintain national sovereignty throughout the entire national territory," he asserted.
The U.S. cooperation includes programs for resilience and riverine security, crisis and contingency response, and cyber defense. In April, the United States donated eight riverine interceptor boats to the Paraguayan Navy, in a partnership valued at approximately US$4 million, for patrol, search and rescue, and port security.