Paraguay seeks deeper Israel ties as beef exports surge and Israeli technology draws interest

Paraguay’s ambassador to Israel, Alejandro Rubin Cymerman, is seeking to expand the country’s growing commercial, diplomatic and cultural ties with the Jewish state, with beef exports, Israeli technology and tourism among the areas offering opportunities for deeper cooperation.

“Israel needs its supporters to be here,” Rubin said during an interview with The Media Line at Paraguay’s embassy in Jerusalem.

Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña has emerged as one of Israel’s strongest supporters in South America.

In December 2024, Peña traveled to Israel to personally attend the reopening of the Paraguayan embassy in Jerusalem. That same year, Israel inaugurated its embassy in Asunción, Paraguay’s capital.

Rubin is particularly focused on promoting Paraguayan beef exports to Israel. He said beef exports to Israel reached $220 million in 2025 and were projected to reach $300 million in 2026, compared to just $88 million in 2023.

While welcoming the significant growth, Rubin primarily credited the private sector for driving the increase.

“We only played a small part,” he admitted.

Rubin said that many Israelis were, until recently, unfamiliar with Paraguay.

“Today I go out, say ‘Paraguay,’ and people say, ‘Thank you,’” he explained, referring to Paraguay’s support for Israel and the relocation of the country’s embassy to Jerusalem.

The ambassador also highlighted the longstanding ties between Paraguay and the Jewish state, noting that Paraguay voted in favor of the 1947 UN partition plan, which paved the way for the reestablishment of the Jewish state in the Land of Israel.

He said Paraguay’s new president prioritizes strong ties with the United States, Israel and Taiwan.

Looking ahead, Rubin said his goal is to establish “the strongest possible ties” between Paraguay and Israel in ways that benefit both countries.

The two countries have already signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs). While Israel imports Paraguayan beef, Paraguay is interested in Israeli defense technologies, innovation and advanced water management.

Rubin acknowledged, however, that implementing agreements between governments can take time.

“Sometimes signing agreements is easier than carrying them out,” he said.

Water management is one area where Paraguay believes Israel can provide valuable expertise. Although Paraguay has abundant water resources, Rubin said the country faces challenges in managing them effectively.

“You might say we have no water problem. But we do have a water management problem,” Ruvin noted, adding that Paraguay is interested in learning from Israel’s experience in dealing with scarce water resources.

Despite the strong bilateral relationship, Rubin acknowledged that the Paraguayan embassy faced challenges during the protracted wars in the Middle East.

“We went through very difficult times,” he said.

However, he emphasized that bilateral cooperation remained strong despite the regional instability.

Rubin also suggested that Paraguay could serve as an attractive entry point for Israeli businesses seeking to establish a stronger presence in the South American Mercosur trading bloc.

The ambassador welcomed the rightward political shift in some South American countries, which he argued has contributed to improved relations with Washington and Jerusalem.

“Paraguay needs a strong Argentina. It needs a strong Latin America,” Rubin explained, referring to the pro-Israel Argentine President Javier Milei.

Rubin also encouraged more Israelis to visit Paraguay, highlighting the country as an affordable destination for tourists and backpackers seeking natural beauty and welcoming surroundings.

He emphasized that potential Israeli tourists “can show their passports without shame, without fear of being [known to be] Israeli.”