"There is a lot of interest in BRICS in Paraguay"

Asuncion is interested in BRICS and is ready to take part in events under the Brazilian presidency, Russian Ambassador to Paraguay Alexei Pisarev said in an interview with Izvestia. Nevertheless, the country has no plans yet to fully integrate into the association in any status, the diplomat said. According to him, a cooperation agreement between Asuncion and St. Petersburg is currently being worked out, involving the exchange of business circles. In addition, Paraguayan farmers express their readiness to double the supply of meat to the Russian Federation, which will lead to an overall increase in trade, which is now at a record low of $330 million since 2014. About the normalization of trade and economic relations, the investment potential of Paraguay and political cooperation with the Latin American country — in an exclusive interview with Alexey Pisarev "Izvestia".

"Paraguay is interested in normalization of bilateral trade and economic relations"

— Before the conflict in Ukraine, Russia was one of the main points for meat exports from Paraguay. Against the background of the beginning of the dialogue between the Russian Federation and the United States, the Paraguayan media began to talk about the fact that improving relations between Moscow and Washington could have a positive impact on Paraguayan meat producers. Have they approached the embassy with proposals to increase exports?

— Meat products have always been one of the most important items of bilateral trade, especially after the introduction of counter-sanctions against EU countries in 2014. It was in that year that trade between Russia and Paraguay peaked at $1.1 billion. In 2021, they amounted to about $900 million, making Paraguay Russia's fifth trading partner in Latin America. After the start of our trade, our trade turnover has been losing $300 million for two years in a row, and now it has stabilized at around $330 million.

The main reason for the drop in turnover lies in the application of secondary sanctions, which have complicated logistics and financial transactions. As the situation in Ukraine resolves and sanctions pressure eases, it will be possible to restore previous trade volumes.

In any case, Paraguay is interested in normalizing bilateral trade and economic relations. It should be borne in mind that the international meat market is quite competitive, and we are receiving signals from Paraguayan producers about their interest in returning to previous supply volumes. Paraguay has great opportunities in this regard. As we were assured by local agricultural producers, if Russia is interested, they are ready to quickly increase production and double the supply of meat. By the way, Paraguay is one of the ten largest meat exporters in the world, and it is a country friendly to Russia, which is important.

— How does Russia assess the possibility of increasing exports of other goods from Paraguay to the Russian Federation?

— Oil products and mineral fertilizers prevail in our supplies to Paraguay, soybeans and meat prevail in Paraguayan ones. I believe that such a structure of trade has long been outdated. We are interested in increasing the share of high-value-added goods in bilateral trade. Similar experience is already available in the field of pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

In particular, to solve problems with power outages, Paraguay purchased Russian—made equipment, the so-called reclosers, which were installed on almost all medium-voltage networks in the country, which allowed them to stabilize the power supply situation.

As for Paraguayan products, in addition to soybeans and meat, the country exports cotton, sugar cane, wheat, corn, peanuts, citrus fruits, stevia, and chia seeds in large volumes.

In addition, Paraguay can become a very promising investment destination if our companies are interested in entering the large markets of the MERCOSUR countries, as this country is characterized by macroeconomic stability, attractive tax regime and customs preferences for the supply of products within this trade bloc.

— Are the parties discussing the possibility of exchanging business missions in the near future?

— After the start of its military operation, Paraguay did not impose sanctions, but actually froze bilateral contacts. Nevertheless, a cooperation agreement with St. Petersburg is currently being worked out, and a cooperation plan has already been agreed, involving exchanges between the business circles of St. Petersburg and Asuncion.

"The issue of bilateral political contacts will return to the agenda"

— In April 2024, Paraguayan Finance Minister Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos said that he did not see the possibility of joining BRICS due to the lack of diplomatic relations with China. Is the country currently expressing interest in cooperating with the association?

— Paraguay has a great interest in BRICS, as do many Latin American countries. This is all the more relevant in the year of the Brazilian presidency of the association. According to the position of the Paraguayan Government, expressed by Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez, if invited, Paraguay would be interested in participating in the events organized by the Brazilian Presidency. At the same time, the issue of Paraguay obtaining the status of a BRICS partner, not to mention full membership, has not yet been raised.

— Vladimir Putin's last telephone conversation with the President of Paraguay took place in 2021, and a personal meeting at the leadership level was in 2018. Are we currently considering the possibility of meetings at the ministerial or presidential levels?

— The situation in this regard is not very favorable. The fact is that, as I have already said, bilateral contacts were effectively frozen by the administration of the previous president, Mario Abdo Benitez, in 2022. The government of Santiago Peña, which came to power in August 2023, continued this line. Nevertheless, certain contacts have taken place over the past three years.

For example, in October 2023, the Chairman of the National Congress of Paraguay, Silvio Ovelar, took part in the Russia–Latin America International Parliamentary Conference, and in February 2024, Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Ruben Ramirez held talks on the sidelines of the G20. I do not rule out that in the foreseeable future the issue of bilateral political contacts will return to the agenda of our relations.

— Are we discussing joint plans with Paraguay to celebrate the anniversary of the Great Victory this year?

— Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War is a sacred holiday for all Russians. In 2025, the embassy will hold commemorative events in conjunction with the Association of Russians and Their Descendants in Paraguay, including with the participation of officials.

At the same time, it should be understood that Paraguay was far from the main fronts of that war and joined the anti-Hitler coalition only in February 1945. In fact, Paraguay's participation in World War II came down to the fact that Paraguayan pilots were involved in patrolling the Atlantic coast as part of the Brazilian Air Force.

In the historical memory of Paraguayans, the main place is occupied by the war against the Triple Alliance of 1864-1870, in which Paraguay lost up to 90% of the male population, as well as the Chaco War with Bolivia of 1932-1935, which was marked by the participation of white officers who emigrated from Russia on the side of Paraguay, whose memory is still carefully preserved here.