MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan FM, US Ambassdor to Asunción discuss security issues

“We are allies, friends, partners and we want to continue our work together,” Ambassador Ostfield said (L)

Paraguay's Foreign Ministry Julio César Arriola and US Ambassador Marc Ostfield Monday held a meeting in Asunción to discuss strengthening the fight against corruption, the mutual quest for security, and “promoting mutual and inclusive economic prosperity.”

 Ostfield spoke about the importance of the alliance between Paraguay and the United States: “We are allies, friends, partners and we want to continue our work together to strengthen the fight against corruption, security here in Paraguay and the region, and promote mutual and inclusive economic prosperity,” he said.

Arriola explained several topics had been reviewed, such as those regarding post-pandemic economic reactivation and the broad positive bilateral agenda existing between both countries. “We are going to continue this way, they are our allies in many issues and we are going to look for other niches, especially to work on our post-pandemic economic reactivation,” Arriola stressed, as he acknowledged there were foreign investors interested in undertakings in the country.

The newly-appointed Paraguayan minister also admitted next month's Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles was on the agenda.

Ostfield, who has been in Asunción since February, was a former ombudsman for the U.S. Department of State, in addition to having served as acting director and deputy director of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). He was also responsible for training government foreign affairs professionals in a variety of areas, served as director of the Office of Policy and Global Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR/PGI) from 2009 to 2013, and directed U.S. foreign policy on cross-cutting issues with Europe and Eurasia. He also served as a senior advisor on bioterrorism, biodefense, and health security in the Department's Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/IHB).

Arriola was appointed a week ago after Euclides Acevedo stepped down to pursue a career in politics and possibly run for president in 2023. “A career diplomat of long trajectory to whom we wish success in his new functions,” said President Mario Abdo Benítez upon swearing him in. In addition to being the fifth Foreign Minister to serve under Abdo, he is also the brother of the Director of Migrations, Ángeles Arriola.

Prior to his appointment, Arriola had been serving as Paraguayan Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) in New York since 2016, when he had replaced current Interior Minister Federico González.

Arriola has vowed to make Annex C of the Itaipu Treaty one of his priorities. He has a degree in Business Administration, in addition to his education at the Paraguayan Foreign Service Academy.