Paraguay is positioning itself as a new food security partner for the Philippines, offering expanded exports of beef, pork, poultry, grains, maize, oil seeds, and other agro-industrial products as Manila seeks more reliable sources of food imports.
During his historic official visit to Manila, Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios welcomed the Philippines’ opening of its market to Paraguayan beef, pork, and poultry in August 2025, saying the move has already resulted in a first shipment to the country.
Peña said the milestone showed Paraguay’s capacity to supply one of Asia’s largest and most dynamic markets, while supporting the Philippines’ food security requirements.
The visit also carried a wider regional significance, with Paraguay currently holding the pro-tempore presidency of Mercosur, while the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
At a joint press conference in Malacañang, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said both countries see themselves as strategic bridges between their regions.
“I am actually very optimistic in that in our discussion earlier, what came out was a remarkable parallel in the way that our countries are developing ourselves and how we view our countries, the Philippines views itself as a gateway to Asia and Paraguay a gateway to Latin America,” Marcos said.
“And that connection, should we make it and should we strengthen it, will be a remarkable boon not only to your country and mine, but also to the regions where we come from,” he added.
Peña said both sides agreed to deepen ties between Mercosur and the Philippines, with the goal of laying the foundation for broader engagement between Mercosur and ASEAN, particularly in trade, investment, and value chains.
Marcos described the talks as “exciting” and focused on long-term cooperation.
“So, we have a great deal of work ahead of us to make sure that we keep that momentum going in our bilateral relations,” the President said.
Beyond trade and food security, Paraguay also announced its intention to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, or TAC, a key ASEAN instrument promoting peaceful relations, mutual respect, and friendly cooperation among states.
“This decision reflects our firm determination to integrate into the regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in line with the principles of peace, respect for sovereignty, and the peaceful settlement of disputes that have historically guided Paraguay’s foreign policy,” Peña said.
He said Paraguay’s move was formally conveyed to the Philippine government in its capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2026.
The proposed accession, Peña added, is not merely symbolic but “a strategic declaration that positions Paraguay as an actor committed to stability and multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific.”
The TAC, established in 1976, has since been amended to allow accession by states outside Southeast Asia and regional organizations. As of October 2025, it had 58 High Contracting Parties.
During the visit, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic training between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as a visa waiver agreement for holders of ordinary passports to facilitate easier travel between Filipinos and Paraguayans.
Peña’s two-day visit marked the first presidential visit between the Philippines and Paraguay since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1962. He arrived in Manila on Sunday and led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Dr. José Rizal Monument in Luneta before his meeting with Marcos in Malacañang.
“President Marcos, I deeply want to share my sense of gratitude. I have the confidence that we both came to this first meeting with high expectations, but I’m leaving this great nation with even greater expectations about the future of our two nations and our people,” Peña said.
“As the only country in Asia with Latino roots, I have no doubt that the role that you can play as a leader of the region will be fundamental for bringing together two regions that share a lot in terms of expectations about the future,” he added.