Lord David Cameron said there was a “partnership of values” between the UK and Paraguay as he became the first foreign secretary to visit the South American nation.
He praised the country’s support for Ukraine as an example of how the UK and Paraguay could work together.
Paraguay’s president Santiago Pena has given his support to Ukraine in a previous meeting with Kyiv’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
At a joint appearance with Paraguay’s foreign minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, Lord Cameron said: “Partnerships only work if they are partnerships of values. I admire so much the stance your country has taken on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“That’s just one example of where we share values then we can work together.”
The UK and Paraguay are working together to unlock green growth and prosperity for both our people.
We remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine and upholding democracy and human rights worldwide.
Muchas gracias por su bienvenida Presidente @SantiPenap. pic.twitter.com/a6SlldatjG
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) February 21, 2024
He apologised for the delay in a foreign secretary visiting a country with which the UK has had diplomatic ties since 1853.
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long,” he said during his visit to the presidential palace in Asuncion.
His Paraguayan counterpart said the pair and president Pena had discussed the “global context” including the situations in Ukraine and Gaza
The talks also covered green energy and trade.
After his meetings in Paraguay the Foreign Secretary will attend a summit of G20 counterparts – including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov – in Brazil on Wednesday.
Russia’s actions in Ukraine will also be the subject of a United Nations session in New York later in the week.
The visit to Asuncion is the latest leg of the Foreign Secretary’s tour of the Americas, which began in the Falkland Islands and will continue on to Brazil and the United States.
On Tuesday morning, Lord Cameron began his day with a swim in the cold South Atlantic before seeing some of the Falkland Islands’ penguins.
He chatted to children involved in a local conservation group, who persuaded him to try a piece of edible grass growing along the coast.
“It tastes like celery,” the Foreign Secretary said before offering the stem to the youngsters to try – they all declined.