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New Paraguay Leaders Promise More Free Milk

Date Added: Thu, 23 May 2013 06:38:13 GMT

Paraguay becomes used car paradise

Date Added: Wed, 22 May 2013 03:13:44 GMT

Argentina absorbs 93% of beef production, exports tumble behind Paraguay

Date Added: Tue, 21 May 2013 05:05:23 GMT

Paraguay soy chamber sees record 2012/13 crop

Date Added: Tue, 21 May 2013 00:26:38 GMT

Horacio Cartes, Paraguay's President-Elect Must Immediately Fight Corruption ...

Date Added: Thu, 23 May 2013 04:13:14 GMT

German Outpost Born of Racism in 1887 Blends Into Paraguay

Date Added: Mon, 06 May 2013 01:11:12 GMT

Boom Times in Paraguay Leave Many Behind

Date Added: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:39:19 GMT

Paraguay: 5 alleged members of Brazil's Red Command gang arrested

Date Added: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:02:36 GMT

Opening Up Paraguay's Landlocked Guairá Region

Date Added: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:07:26 GMT

Paraguay Nabs 5 Members of Brazilian Gang

Date Added: Wed, 22 May 2013 00:51:03 GMT

Results 1 - 10 of Headlines for Paraguay

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The governments of Qatar and Paraguay issued a joint communiqué through their respective United Nations envoys Nov. 10, agreeing to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

Qatar’s interest in establishing diplomatic relations with Paraguay could be indicative of Doha’s increasingly pro-U.S. foreign policy. Paraguay -- one of the poorest nations in South America, with a gross domestic product of less than $7 billion -- is not likely to become a major consumer of Qatari oil and natural gas any time in the near future. However, what Paraguay does have in abundance are drug traffickers, arms smugglers and Islamic militants -- including Hezbollah and possibly al Qaeda suspects.

Qatar -- a net food importer -- certainly might have commercial reasons for establishing relations with Paraguay, which exports beef and other agricultural goods; Doha already has ties to other members of the South American Customs Union (Mercosur). But it also is possible that the new ties speak to security concerns on the part of Doha, which reportedly fended off a recent coup attempt that might have been linked to al Qaeda.

Paraguay is a strategic hub for international smuggling, money laundering and other criminal operations. The illicit activities center around Ciudad del Este, a city near the borders of Brazil and Argentina in an area known as the "triple frontier." The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and military already operate in Paraguay, cooperating with Asuncion in drug interdiction operations. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, U.S. intelligence and Israeli Mossad reportedly flooded into the city in search of Islamic militants as well.

Members of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and other extremist Islamic groups recently met in Ciudad del Este, CNN reported Nov. 7. Miguel Toma, the head of Argentina’s intelligence agency, confirmed an increase in militant activity, although Brazilian and Paraguayan officials have denied this. Authorities from Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina will meet Dec. 16 to discuss responses to potential terrorist strikes in the Mercosur region, should a U.S. invasion of Iraq unleash car bombings or other retaliatory attacks by militants, Argentinian and Brazilian media reported Nov. 12. Argentina already has declared a security alert for the region.

While Qatar’s decision to establish diplomatic ties with Paraguay could be part of a broader strategy of building closer links to its trading partners, it also is possible that establishing an embassy in Asuncion will allow Doha to enhance intelligence operations and aid the U.S. war against al Qaeda. As a friendly Arab nation with a presence in the region, Qatar could insert itself into Ciudad del Este’s large Arab community and boost its own value as an intelligence-sharing partner for the United States.

Doha has its own motives for stepping up its support of U.S. operations. Qatar has come under increasing pressure from Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, for its cooperation with Washington. After Riyadh denied Washington the use of the Prince Sultan air base to launch attacks on Iraq, the U.S. military relocated to Qatar’s al-Udeid base. And the U.S. Central Command is now in the process of relocating to Qatar as well, ostensibly in order to carry out training exercises in the region. However, the forward-deployed command and control station likely will direct the war in Iraq if it occurs.

Doha’s cooperation with the United States has caused it considerable problems, possibly including the failed coup attempt in October. The government reportedly arrested dozens of high-ranking army officials when the plot was exposed, and allegations have been made that al Qaeda was directly linked to the coup attempt. If the allegations of al Qaeda involvement are proven, then Doha will be strongly motivated to mount a counteroffensive.