Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. weighs in on Paraguay’s decision to halt embassy move to Jerusalem

The United States is adding pressure on Paraguay to reverse course after the new government in Paraguay announced that it would not be following the footsteps of the United States in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and reversed its decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The announcement angered Israel has triggered a diplomatic rift between the two countries. Israel has announced that it is closing down its embassy in Paraguay.

This was a major diplomatic victory for the Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders who cheered the move hailing it as a fruit of intense diplomatic lobbying.

The United States weighed in on the matter as Vice President Mike Pence called Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benitez to discuss the issue. Here is the statement from the White House, “Vice President Mike Pence spoke yesterday with President Mario Abdo Benitez of Paraguay to discuss Asuncion’s recent announcement to delay the official move of its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The Vice President strongly encouraged President Abdo Benitez to follow through with Paraguay’s previous commitment to move the embassy as a sign of the historic relationship the country has maintained with both Israel and the United States. President Abdo Benitez underscored Paraguay’s lasting partnership with Israel and the leaders agreed to work towards achieving a compressive and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Vice President Pence also congratulated President Abdo Benitez on his inauguration in August and welcomed the opportunity for more dialogue between the two countries.”

Paraguay has been one of the two countries that had announced the embassy move after U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, late last year. So, its reversal is not only an embarrassment for Israel but for the United States too.