Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Paraguay President Santiago Peña came together in New Delhi Monday, not just for handshakes and photo-ops, but to send a blunt message: terrorism will not be tolerated. The leaders condemned the recent Pahalgam attack and outlined an ambitious roadmap for cooperation across technology, trade, and security.
The rare high-level visit from the landlocked South American nation carried weight, especially with Peña voicing support for India just days after a deadly terror strike rocked Kashmir. But the meeting went far beyond symbolism.
A Unified Stand Against Terror, Clear and Loud
The Pahalgam attack in Jammu & Kashmir left India reeling once again from the sting of terrorism. This time, it wasn’t just the usual suspects expressing grief.
Peña’s message? Solidarity. Not lip service.
He condemned the assault “in all forms and manifestations,” standing firmly beside Modi in denouncing violent extremism.
On India’s part, the Prime Minister didn’t mince words. “India and Paraguay stand united in the global fight against terrorism,” Modi declared during their joint interaction. And that sentiment wasn’t left hanging in the air—it was backed with purpose.
The two leaders discussed ways to ramp up cooperation to tackle:
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Cross-border terrorism
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Cybercrime networks
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Drug and human trafficking cartels
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Transnational organized crime
That’s a lot on the plate. But for countries on opposite sides of the globe, they’re oddly in sync.
Not Just Sympathy—Paraguay Brings Strategy to the Table
One might think of Paraguay as too distant to matter in India’s security calculus. But think again.
India has already extended vaccine diplomacy to Paraguay during the COVID crisis. Now, the focus is shifting to shared resilience.
Modi noted that both nations are part of the “Global South”—a term gaining more traction lately, especially in forums like BRICS and G20.
He emphasized that nations with similar economic pressures and strategic vulnerabilities can exchange real lessons.
Pena, a former finance minister turned President, is keen on modernizing Paraguay’s approach to internal threats. He echoed Modi’s pitch for greater cybersecurity collaboration and mentioned Paraguay’s growing interest in India’s digital policing models.
This wasn’t just diplomatic chit-chat—it felt like groundwork.
Trade and MERCOSUR: Time to Think Bigger?
Beyond mutual security concerns, there was an economic undercurrent to the meeting that shouldn’t be missed.
India and MERCOSUR, the South American trade bloc where Paraguay plays a key role, already share a preferential trade agreement. But Modi believes it’s time to expand that.
“India and MERCOSUR have great untapped potential,” he said. And he’s not wrong.
India’s trade with Paraguay is small but growing steadily. There’s appetite on both sides for more—especially in agri-tech, renewable energy, and rare earth minerals.
Critical Minerals and Digital Tech: New Frontiers Beckon
It wasn’t all about the usual talking points.
Modi and Peña carved out special focus areas that could shape the future of their partnership—starting with critical minerals. With global tech supply chains rattled and the EV race intensifying, rare earths and lithium are no longer fringe topics.
Paraguay has resources. India has demand. That’s the simple math.
Meanwhile, the leaders also talked tech. Digital public infrastructure—where India has gone from laggard to leader—is now on Peña’s radar. He’s interested in India’s Aadhaar-like digital ID systems, and mobile payment solutions.
That could open up new projects in:
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Biometric identity rollouts
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E-governance platforms
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Digital banking partnerships
Peña even hinted that India could help “leapfrog” Paraguay’s tech capabilities the way it has for Africa.
Vaccine Diplomacy, Revisited
There was a moment in the meeting when both leaders paused—not for strategy or planning—but for a little gratitude.
Modi reminded Peña of how India had shipped vaccines to Paraguay at the peak of COVID, long before other major suppliers got involved. It was a small gesture, but one that seems to have stuck.
Peña said that kind of solidarity is rare, and it showed that “India cares not just about its neighbors, but the whole Global South.”
That goodwill matters. It can’t be bought or staged. It adds trust—and in geopolitics, trust is leverage.
