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Paraguay Recalls Ambassador to Brazil Over Lula's War Remarks
🇦🇷 Argentina /Elections & Politics

Paraguay Recalls Ambassador to Brazil Over Lula's War Remarks

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Paraguay summoned its ambassador to Brazil following controversial remarks by Brazilian President Lula da Silva about the War of the Triple Alliance.
  • Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced the ambassador's recall to deliver an official note protesting Lula's statements.
  • Lula's comments, which implied Paraguay initiated the 19th-century conflict, have caused outrage in Paraguay.

Paraguay has summoned its ambassador to Brazil for consultations in response to what it termed "abrupt declarations" by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding the War of the Triple Alliance. The Paraguayan Foreign Ministry announced the recall, stating that Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho would be summoned to receive an official note from President Santiago Peña's government.

Have no doubt that the government of President Santiago Peña and this national Chancellery will always defend the highest interests of Paraguay in all areas.

— Rubén RamírezParaguayan Foreign Minister, affirming the country's stance on the issue

Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez confirmed the diplomatic move, emphasizing Paraguay's commitment to defending its national interests. "Have no doubt that the government of President Santiago Peña and this national Chancellery will always defend the highest interests of Paraguay in all areas," Ramírez stated. The controversy stems from recent remarks by Lula, who, while discussing Brazil's defense budget, characterized the War of the Triple Alliance as a conflict initiated by Paraguay's invasion of Brazil.

This interpretation has ignited widespread indignation in Paraguay, where the war is viewed as a catastrophic event that decimated its population. Historians often note that Brazil's intervention in Uruguay's civil war preceded Paraguay's military actions, and many consider the conflict a genocide against Paraguay. The Paraguayan Senate issued a statement accusing Lula of a "clear omission of historical facts" and urged Brazil to adopt a more balanced and respectful view of their shared history.

Not forgetting that, one fine day, Paraguay decided to invade Brazil.

— Lula da Silvareferring to the start of the War of the Triple Alliance

Despite the diplomatic tension, Paraguay maintains that dialogue with Brazil remains open, citing shared interests in trade, investment, and regional security. However, the historical framing of the devastating 19th-century conflict remains a sensitive issue for Paraguay, which lost an estimated 50-60% of its population.

clear omission of historical facts

— Paraguayan Senatein a statement criticizing Lula's remarks
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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