Biden-Harris Administration Shortsighted With Composition Of Delegation To Presidential Inauguration In Paraguay- Demonstrates Reactive Strategy Rather Than Proactive Strategy
Biden-Harris Administration Shortsighted With Composition Of Delegation To Presidential Inauguration In Paraguay- Demonstrates Reactive Strategy Rather Than Proactive Strategy
The Biden-Harris Administration (2021- ) promotes continuously it has a focus upon the relationship between the government of the United States and the governments of the forty-seven (47) countries which comprise The Americas.
On 15 August 2023, the Republic of Paraguay inaugurates Santiago Peña as its new president.
Yes, Mr. Peña is from the same political party which has controlled the government (and indirectly the private sector) for decades. Yes, officials of a previous government (president and family) and current government (vice president and family) have been sanctioned (for corruption) by the Biden-Harris Administration and denied visas to visit the United States. Yes, government officials have in recent months criticized the Biden-Harris Administration.
However, the Republic of Paraguay has an important geographical role with issues relating to the environment and with the movement of narcotics. The country is the world’s third-largest exporter of soybeans and has a prominent meat export sector. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to approve meat exports to the United States- despite objections from United States-based companies.
Importantly to the Biden-Harris Administration, the Republic of Paraguay is one of few remaining countries to maintain official relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)- whose vice president is attending the presidential inauguration in Asuncion, the capital of the Republic of Paraguay, much to the dismay of the government of the People’s Republic of China.
The Biden-Harris Administration has made a mistake in the composition of the United States delegation to the inaugural.
A political definition of “short shortsightedness” to message the incoming government of the Republic of Paraguay that the Biden-Harris Administration will await digestible decisions by the Peña Administration from which to respond rather than sending a high-level delegation to the inaugural which conveys the message that the Republic of Paraguay is important to the Biden-Harris Administration; that senior-level officials have traveled to Asuncion prepared to engage- and to demonstrate visibly preparation to engage.
The Biden-Harris Administration should have been proactive rather than projecting a policy of reactiveness. By taking the decision it has, The White House has made easier for critics within the commercial, economic, military, and political sectors in the Republic of Paraguay to message that Washington is not showing an interest in engaging with the incoming Peña Administration. Citizens in the Republic of Paraguay do pay attention to the composition of inaugural delegations.
Not included in the inaugural delegation representing the Biden-Harris Administration:
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States
Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State
Gina Raimondo, United States Secretary of Commerce
Thomas Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture
Christopher Dodd, Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas
Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Robert Menendez (D- New Jersey), Chairman and James Risch (R- Idaho), Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate
Michael McCaul (R- Texas, 10th District), Chairman, Gregory Meeks (D- New York, 5th District), Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives
The White House
Washington DC
12 August 2023
President Biden Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Paraguay to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Santiago Peña
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Santiago Peña on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, in Asunción, Paraguay.
The Honorable Deb Haaland, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, will lead the delegation.
Members of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable Marc Ostfield, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay; The Honorable Norma Torres, United States Congresswoman (D), CA-35; The Honorable Francisco O. Mora, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States; and The Honorable Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
