Paraguay's Minister of Urbanism, Housing, and Habitat, Juan Carlos Baruja, described former President Horacio Cartes's trip to the United States as an "act of justice" and the closing of a "nefarious cycle in Paraguayan politics."
Cartes was officially invited by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) to attend the final of the 2026 World Cup, held on Sunday, July 19th, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina.
During his stay, the former president met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Undersecretary Christopher Landau. His inner circle described the meetings as a "political vindication," considering the sanctions Cartes faced starting in July 2022, which were lifted in October 2025.
Baruja, who is also the political secretary of the National Republican Association (ANR, the Colorado Party), stated that Cartes's persistence kept the Colorado political project afloat, preventing a contrary decision from altering the course of the party's history.