Why Paraguay Can Lead the Way in Latin America: Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano

American Thought Leaders

Jan Jekielek

Government, News, Politics

4.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the President Santiago Peña of Paraguay. He shared why Paraguay is one of only 12 countries in the world that recognizes Taiwan instead of communist China and one of only six countries that have moved their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Now I’m sitting down with his foreign minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, to learn more about Paraguay, the region, and Lezcano’s candidacy for secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS).

“Paraguay matters in the agenda of the United States. Why? Because Paraguay is a very important and key partner for the United States,” says Lezcano. “I think that America abandoned for a long time Latin America. In the last year, the United States lost a lot of markets, a lot of investment, and a lot of opportunities. I think that [now] is the time to work closely again.”

Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Transcript

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0:00.0	A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the President of Paraguay, Santiago
0:04.8	Peña. He shared why Paraguay is one of only 12 countries in the world to recognize
0:10.5	Taiwan instead of communist China, and one of only six countries in the world to have moved
0:15.3	their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
0:17.6	We cannot put economic interests ahead of the values and the principles.
0:23.3	Now, I'm sitting down with his foreign minister, Ruben Ramirez Lescano,
0:27.8	to learn more about Paraguay, the region, and Lescanos candidacy for Secretary General
0:33.3	of the Organization of American States, OAS.
0:36.3	I think that America abandoned a lot of time, Latin America.
0:42.3	In the last year, United States lost a lot of market,
0:47.3	a lot of investment, and a lot of opportunities.
0:52.3	I think that that is the time to work close again.
0:56.0	This is American Thought Leaders and I'm Janja Kellek.
0:59.0	Minister Ruben Ramirez Liskano, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders.
1:07.0	Really, John, it's a pleasure to be here in your program with your audience.
1:12.6	All the best.
1:13.6	Welcome to America here in the U.S.
1:15.6	Since the inauguration of President Trump, it seems to me like the State Department has been quite
1:23.6	active.
1:24.6	The Secretary of State, Rubio, and President Trump himself has been quite
1:29.9	active on issues related to Latin America and perhaps Paraguay as well. So how do you view
1:35.5	what's happened in the last 20 days?
	...

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