The U.S. welcomed Paraguay as the 26th partner to join the Pax Silica Initiative last week during a visit from Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano to Washington, D.C. The country has joined a growing and trusted coalition that will build the chips, power the Super Intelligence and secure the technologies that will define the future.
Paraguay is bringing critical minerals and hydropower resources for building SI infrastructure in the Americas to the partnership. During a recent visit to the region U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau joined President Santiago Peña in announcing a landmark strategic partnership agreement between American and Paraguayan companies to harness the power of the remarkable Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam for a datacenter that will serve both U.S. and Latin American cloud customers.
“This deal has the potential to be the largest foreign private investment in Paraguay’s history and thus to deepen the longstanding ties between our countries,” wrote Deputy Secretary Landau on X.
At the same time Uranium Energy Corporation announced a $12 million investment to develop assets it holds in Paraguay’s mining and mineral sector that will create jobs in both Paraguay and the U.S. These efforts compliment steps the two countries are taking to start negotiations toward building the legal framework required to cooperate on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The framework will eventually allow U.S. companies to export significant civil nuclear equipment and material to Paraguay under the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.
The U.S. also continues to partner with Paraguay on security initiatives. During his visit, Deputy Secretary Landau signed agreements on aerial counternarcotics cooperation and border control. The Department of State is providing $5.5 million in foreign assistance to expand support to assist with border security and digital evidence capabilities as well as counter terrorist financing. The funds will help activate a new counterterrorism center and help hold narco-terrorists accountable. The Department of State will also send a counterterrorism advisor to Asunción to help monitor and support new and ongoing counterterrorism program engagements. The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister Ramírez also signed a Memorandum of Intent to enhance the two countries’ partnership in countering terrorist travel through the deployment in Paraguay of advanced personal identification and passenger screening equipment.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State is providing $6.25 million in bilateral security assistance to address transnational organized crime and is creating a Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs office in Asunción to serve as a regional hub for program coordination.
“The Trump and Peña Administration continue paving the way in a historic partnership that is providing great opportunities for both our countries while contributing to our hemisphere’s security and prosperity,” said a statement. As Deputy Secretary Landau wrote on X, “Paraguay is a great partner!”