Paraguay’s annual military parade for Independence Day will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday along the Costanera Norte, in front of the Palacio de López. The event will highlight new equipment acquired through international partnerships, including five Safe Boat interceptors donated by the United States and four Super Tucano A-21 aircraft purchased from Brazil, according to Última Hora.
The United States donated eight Safe Boat patrol boats worth USD 4 million to the Paraguayan Navy in late April. Of those, four will be used in the parade, with five total on display. Paraguay purchased six Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil in June 2024 for USD 100 million; four have arrived, and the remaining two are expected in August.
Defense Minister General Óscar González told Última Hora that the parade will involve 3,000 personnel—2,400 military and 600 police—down from about 6,000 in previous years. He attributed the reduction to the need to maintain troops in departments where the self-styled Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo (EPP) operates. “It is a sign that they wanted to see the parade and that they appreciate the Armed Forces; I take it very positively,” González said, referring to public reaction to earlier uncertainty about the event.
The cost of organizing the parade is G. 700 million, with various state entities covering portions: the State Ceremonial Directorate for the stage, the Army Command for troop movement, the Navy for its units, and the Air Force for its own. President Santiago Peña will attend the parade at 10:00 a.m.
The parade order includes: first, the Army with 18 tactical trucks, six Humvees, six Cascabel tanks, and six Urutau tanks; second, the Navy with the five Safe Boat interceptors and a water cannon vehicle; third, the Air Force with four Super Tucano and four Tucano aircraft, plus other planes such as C-212, C-208, T-35, and UH-1H, totaling 18 aircraft; and finally, the police contingent of 600 officers.