Paraguay's President Proposes New Ambassador to U.S.

President Santiago Peña has put forward Estefanía Laterza de los Ríos, the current director of Paraguay's diplomatic academy, to serve as the country's next ambassador to the United States. The proposal was formally submitted to the Senate for approval.

Laterza de los Ríos, who holds ambassadorial rank since 2018, brings a wealth of experience to the potential role. Her previous positions include serving as the director and representative for CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean in Brazil. She has also held the roles of vice minister of Investments and Exports at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and secretary-general and director of Multilateral Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The appointment would fill the vacancy left by Gustavo Leite, a senator from the ruling Colorado Party. Leite had temporarily left his Senate seat in July 2025 to take on the diplomatic mission in the U.S. and returned to his legislative duties on July 22.

The Paraguayan constitution requires the Senate's agreement for such high-level diplomatic appointments. Peña's request to the Senate seeks the "corresponding agreement to proceed with the designation" of Laterza de los Ríos as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the United States.