Paraguay's President Peña Arrives in Ecuador for Talks on Security and Cooperation

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has arrived in Quito for an official visit aimed at reinforcing cooperation between Ecuador and Paraguay. He is scheduled to meet with his Ecuadorian counterpart, Daniel Noboa, on Wednesday to address critical issues including security and judicial collaboration.

Peña and his wife, Leticia Ocampos, were welcomed at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport by Ecuador's Foreign Minister, Roberto Kury. The official agenda includes the signing of several key documents. These are expected to cover extradition mechanisms, judicial cooperation, air services, recognition of driver's licenses, and the exchange of information and strategies related to security.

Both governments also plan to sign agreements on technical-military cooperation, the exchange of experiences, women's empowerment and protection, and a joint declaration. The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry stated that the visit seeks to consolidate a "strategic alliance for development" between the two nations, advancing common objectives in security, trade, peace, development, and citizen welfare.

This meeting follows a prior encounter between Peña and Noboa at the inauguration ceremony of Keiko Fujimori in Lima, Peru. Preparations for Peña's visit began in early July, involving discussions between Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Roberto Kury and Paraguayan Ambassador to Quito, Roberto Benítez. Notably, during a visit by Paraguay's Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez in April, Ecuador had requested Paraguay to designate certain criminal gangs, such as Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as "terrorist groups."