The government of Paraguay, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned on Sunday (17) the attack by unmanned aerial vehicles on the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In an official statement, the country expressed solidarity with the Emirati people and government and reiterated the need to protect nuclear infrastructure, promoting regional stability through dialogue and respect for international law.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates, three drones of unknown origin illegally entered the country's airspace. Security forces intercepted two of them, but a third hit an electrical generator. The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the impact caused a fire outside the internal perimeter of the facilities, in the southern region of Al Dhafra, quickly controlled by emergency teams, without compromising the safety of the main reactors.
The attack occurs amid the serious geopolitical crisis in the Persian Gulf, following the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28. In response to the conflict, Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks against Israel and against the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, in addition to the Emirates. Tehran also maintains a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil exports from the region.
International analysts point out that the United Arab Emirates has become the territory most affected by Iranian offensives, raising bilateral tensions to unprecedented levels. The Paraguayan government's statement seeks to add South American institutional support to the demand for protection of atomic energy facilities, whose neutrality is guaranteed by multilateral security agreements.