New Delhi, June 2, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi satARS down with Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña Palacios in New Delhi for a series of wide-ranging discussions. Their focus? Taking a hard look at the ties between India and Paraguay and figuring out how to make them stronger. This wasn’t just a routine meeting—it stood out because it was Peña’s very first state visit to India, spanning June 2 to June 4, 2025.
Leaders Target Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation
During their talks, the two leaders made it clear they’re both committed to ramping up cooperation in areas that matter—think trade and investment, energy, food security, science and technology, plus a handful of regional and global issues they see eye-to-eye on. They couldn’t help but note how trade between their nations is picking up steam, and they dug into ways to push things further in fields like clean energy, digital innovation, and pharmaceuticals.
Peña Connects with India’s Top Leaders
President Peña didn’t stop at meeting Modi, though. He also carved out time to connect with other key Indian figures. President Droupadi Murmu rolled out the red carpet with a banquet in his honor—a warm gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. Then there were his discussions with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, rounding out a busy lineup.
Peña Highlights Paraguay’s Role in Latin America
When it was his turn to speak, President Peña didn’t mince words. He stressed Paraguay’s eagerness to team up more on agriculture and painted his country as a steady, reliable partner for India in Latin America. Prime Minister Modi chimed in with his own take, pointing to shared values like democracy and mutual respect as the bedrock of their growing strategic partnership.
Peña to Explore Mumbai’s Business and Tech Opportunities
The visit isn’t confined to New Delhi, either. President Peña’s itinerary takes him to Mumbai, where he’s slated to meet state political leaders, business and industry reps, plus a mix of startups, innovators, and tech heads. Everyone’s expecting these chats to spark fresh partnerships—maybe even some joint ventures—especially in innovation and infrastructure development.
India-Paraguay Diplomatic Ties Since 1961
India and Paraguay have history—warm, friendly diplomatic relations stretching back to 1961. Over the decades, they’ve teamed up on trade, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals, and IT. Paraguay holds its own as a key trading partner for India in Latin America. Indian companies are making moves in Paraguay’s auto and pharma sectors, while Paraguayan firms are setting up shop with joint ventures in India.
India Steps Up Strategic Partnership with Paraguay
India’s been stepping up its game with Paraguay lately—think a full-fledged mission in Asunción and joint efforts in clean energy, cybersecurity, and even space exploration. It’s all part of a bigger push to tighten strategic and economic ties, and here’s the kicker: they’re doing it without the geopolitical baggage tied to China. This visit also puts Paraguay’s approach on display—a country looking to broaden its partnerships while sticking to its diplomatic stance on Taiwan, something China’s not exactly thrilled about.
A Milestone in India-Paraguay Relations
All in all, this state visit feels like a turning point. It’s a prime chance to solidify strategic ties, expand economic and agricultural teamwork, and dip into new areas like clean energy, cybersecurity, and space exploration. Both sides are also keen to give the MERCOSUR-India Preferential Trade Agreement a boost, which could take their trade relations up a notch.
China’s View on Peña’s India Visit
China on Sunday began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. It is the first time that China has extended such access to nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Global Times)
The impression of China on Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios’s visit to India is shaped by Paraguay’s cautious stance toward China. Paraguay is known for its strong pro-Taiwan position and has made clear that it is open to establishing trade and other relations with China only if it does not have to sever ties with Taiwan. This visit to India comes at a time when Paraguay is actively seeking to diversify its international partnerships beyond China, including strengthening ties with India and Japan as part of a broader strategy to balance China’s growing influence in Latin America.
In summary, the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Peña, along with engagements with other key Indian leaders, marked a significant step toward deepening bilateral relations and exploring new avenues for cooperation across multiple sectors. This visit is likely to be viewed by China as Paraguay further aligning with India and other democracies to counterbalance China’s influence in Latin America, underscoring Paraguay’s unique position in the region as a pro-Taiwan country open to strategic partnerships outside China’s orbit.
Citations:
[3] https://x.com/airnewsalerts/status/1929372786524651625 [4] https://stratnewsglobal.com/world-news/paraguayan-president-santiago-pena-set-for-landmark-india-visit/
