Paraguay requests return of historical war artifacts from Brazil

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano is seeking the return of historical artifacts captured by the Brazilian Imperial Army during the Triple Alliance War. The request, made during a Mercosul meeting in Montevideo, includes gold coins, documents, and the “El Cristiano” cannon, which is currently held at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro.

The diplomatic tension follows recent comments by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding the conflict, which prompted a formal protest from the Paraguayan government. While President Lula has reportedly signaled his agreement to the return of the cannon to Asunción, Brazilian officials note that the process is complex. Because the items are classified as protected historical heritage, their transfer requires specific legal procedures and patrimonial analyses.

Paraguay views the restitution of these items, including the “Presidente López” cannon and various howitzers, as a “gesture of reparation” for the wounds left by the 19th-century conflict, which remains the largest armed struggle in South American history.