The government of Paraguay, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, energetically condemned the drone attack on the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which occurred on Sunday, May 17, 2026. In an official statement, the Paraguayan Chancellery expressed “full solidarity with the people and government of the Emirates” and reiterated “the need to protect nuclear facilities and promote regional stability through dialogue and respect for international law.”
The attack was carried out by three drones of unknown origin that violated Emirati airspace. UAE security forces intercepted and destroyed two of the aircraft, but a third drone managed to hit an electrical generator located outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah plant, in the Al Dhafra region. The impact caused a fire that was quickly brought under control by emergency teams. Authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the incident did not affect the plant's reactors nor pose a risk to nuclear safety.
The episode occurs in the context of a serious geopolitical escalation in the Middle East, following the start of the war on February 28, 2026. Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and against countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a bloc formed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. Additionally, Tehran maintains a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route for oil exports from Gulf countries.
The United Arab Emirates was the country most affected by Iranian attacks, raising tensions between Abu Dhabi and Tehran to unprecedented levels. The Paraguayan government, by condemning the attack, aligned itself with the position of defending regional stability and international law.