Chile's president arrives in Paraguay to participate in Mercosur summit

Chilean President José Antonio Kast arrived in Paraguay on Monday to attend the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State and Government. The summit is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Luque, located in the central region of the country. This visit represents Kast's first official trip to the South American nation since he assumed the presidency in March.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chilean leader was welcomed by Paraguayan Vice Minister of Economic Relations and Integration, Patricia Frutos, at the presidential pier of the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque, near the capital city of Asunción.

President Kast is the third head of state to land in Paraguay for the Mercosur summit. He follows the arrival of Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who arrived the previous day. Following his participation in the summit, Kast is scheduled to undertake an official state visit in Asunción. His agenda includes attending expanded sessions focused on integration and the signing of agreements, as well as a meeting with his Paraguayan counterpart, Santiago Peña.

Kast's schedule also includes discussions with other regional leaders, such as Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa. Additionally, the Chilean president is expected to be received by the Paraguayan Congress on Tuesday, where senators and deputies have been convened for a plenary session. After concluding his engagements in Paraguay, Kast plans to travel to Uruguay for a meeting with President Orsi.

Chile, along with Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Guyana, and Suriname, holds associate member status within the Mercosur bloc, which comprises full members Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Kast had previously visited Paraguay's capital in June 2025, during his presidential campaign, to attend the Madrid Forum.