Asunción, Agencia IP.- The Chamber of Deputies passed a bill on Tuesday ratifying the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the Republic of Paraguay and the United States of America. This agreement establishes the legal framework for regulating the temporary presence of U.S. military and civilian personnel in Paraguay as part of bilateral cooperation activities.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the agreement aims to strengthen Paraguay’s capabilities in the face of contemporary challenges such as transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, international terrorism, and emerging risks related to cyberattacks and new technologies, threats that, it was argued, require closer international cooperation.

The «Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Paraguay and the Government of the United States of America Regarding the Status of Forces» is an initiative whose main objective is to define clear, predictable, and reciprocal rules regarding operational, jurisdictional, and administrative aspects related to joint missions, training, technical assistance, and cooperation actions in matters of security and defense.

The document establishes provisions related to criminal jurisdiction, privileges and immunities, the mobility of foreign personnel, the recognition of professional licenses, and the operation of vehicles, stipulating that these activities must be carried out with respect for national sovereignty and the Paraguayan legal system.

The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Juan Manuel Añazco, explained during the session that, from a legal standpoint, the agreement is based on principles of international law and the sovereign right of states to enter into treaties, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. He also maintained that this type of instrument is common in military and humanitarian cooperation schemes between countries.

For his part, Representative Pedro Ortiz, president of the Defense, Security, Intelligence, and Internal Order Committee, highlighted the strengthening of military capabilities through joint training, knowledge transfer, technical assistance, and emergency and disaster preparedness, as well as improving the state’s response to transnational criminal networks operating in the region.

In turn, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre, maintained that the fight against drug trafficking requires a joint effort between the State and the international community.

«We cannot do it alone; I want to win the war on drugs and offer my children a safe country,» he stated, emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation on security and the fight against organized crime.

The agreement also aims to provide legal certainty for international cooperation operations, avoiding legal loopholes by establishing clear rules on responsibilities, jurisdiction, and immunities for foreign personnel.

During the parliamentary debate, opposition legislators expressed concerns about provisions related to privileges and immunities granted to U.S. personnel, particularly regarding criminal jurisdiction and potential limitations on foreign citizens being tried in Paraguayan courts.

The agreement had already been approved by the Senate, so the law now goes to the Executive Branch.

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