Paraguay seeks return of war trophies from Brazil

Paraguay's Executive Branch and the Chamber of Deputies have agreed on a joint agenda to demand the restitution of war trophies from Brazil. The claim focuses on items taken during the War of the Triple Alliance, most notably the ‘Cañón Cristiano’—an artillery piece manufactured by Paraguay—as well as the ‘Cañón López’ and various historical documents and archives currently held in Brazil.

To advance this long-standing objective, Paraguayan officials are implementing a strategy of parliamentary diplomacy. This involves direct coordination between legislators from different political blocs and their counterparts in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and Senate. This approach aims to navigate Brazilian legislation, which protects these items as national heritage and requires approval from both the Brazilian Executive and Congress for their return.

Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano is scheduled to meet with his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, on September 2 to discuss the matter. The minister noted that while the goal is to ‘turn the page’ on a painful chapter of national history, official documentation regarding the potential return of the cannon is still required to confirm specific details.