Relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Paraguay have experienced a notable acceleration in recent months, culminating in a strategic realignment that redefines diplomatic balances in Rabat's relationship with Latin America. The Paraguayan government materialized this Wednesday its full support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara with the announcement of the upcoming opening of a General Consulate in the southern provinces of the territory. This gesture, the most significant in recent bilateral diplomacy, was communicated during the first official visit to Morocco by Paraguay's Minister of Foreign Relations, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano. Paraguay will assume the presidency of the South American bloc in December and sees the Kingdom of Morocco as a 'gateway' to Africa and the Gulf countries, while Paraguay offers Morocco an entry point to Mercosur and Latin America. The Presidential Visit To seal this new stage, the Paraguayan government confirmed the upcoming state visit of President Santiago Peña Palacios to the Kingdom of Morocco. A few days later, on October 24, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay, Raúl Luís Latorre, reaffirmed in Geneva the 'firm' and 'constant' support of his country for Moroccan territorial integrity, even delivering a copy of the support resolution unanimously adopted by the Paraguayan chamber. Strategic Cooperation: Mercosur-Africa Axis Beyond the Western Sahara issue, Lezcano's visit served to cement a 'strategic alliance' covering multiple facets, with a clear horizon: the FIFA World Cup 2030. Both countries share the challenge of co-hosting the event. The visit, planned for before the first half of 2026, symbolizes Paraguay's commitment to an alliance based on 'shared values of democracy, rule of law, freedom, and human rights'. Within this framework, Minister Lezcano also extended a formal invitation to King Mohammed VI to visit Paraguay next July, coinciding with the Mercosur summit. At his meeting in Rabat with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, Lezcano not only confirmed the consular opening but reaffirmed his country's 'full support' for Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara and backed the Initiative for the Negotiation of an Autonomy Plan presented by Morocco to the United Nations in 2007, calling it 'the only serious, credible, and realistic basis for solving the regional dispute'. Western Sahara as the Axis of Convergence Asunción's decision to establish a consular representation in the Sahara is the culmination of a diplomatic shift that began in 2014, when Paraguay withdrew its recognition of the self-proclaimed and non-existent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Paraguay will host the opening matches alongside Argentina and Uruguay, while Morocco will organize the bulk of the tournament with Spain and Portugal. The Paraguayan minister expressed being 'extraordinarily surprised' by the development of infrastructure in the Alaouite kingdom. 'I am (…) in a very pleasant way, by the spectacular infrastructure they are developing and we have to learn a lot in Paraguay from this,' Lezcano stated. During the visit, a joint communiqué was signed to accelerate projects and strengthen cooperation between Morocco and Mercosur. The announcement made in Rabat on Wednesday, described as a 'strong political act' and 'a politically significant act,' illustrates the growing recognition in Latin America of the Moroccan position. This support is not new, but its intensity has increased. By Adalberto Agozino Asunción announces the opening of a General Consulate in the southern provinces, a gesture of great political significance. This joint organization, he stated, will allow both countries to 'work together on the most effective social integration, which is sport'. The economic sphere is also key. As early as September 23, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Ramírez Lezcano had already informed Bourita of his country's intentions. The bilateral agenda is complemented by the expansion of educational scholarships and cooperation in security and the fight against transnational crime.
