U.S. EMBASSY ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – Gen. Richard D. Clarke, Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, and Commander of Special Operations Command South, Rear Adm. Keith Davids, visited Asunción today as part of a routine, regional circulation through South America.
Clarke and Davids met with the President of Paraguay, His Excellency Mario Abdo Benitez, the Minister of Defense Bernardino Soto Estigarribia, the Commander of the Military Forces General Eladio Gonzalez, and the Minister of Interior Federico Gonzalez Franco. Clarke and Davids also met with U.S. Embassy leadership and visited U.S. and Paraguayan service members training together.
"Partnerships are vital in addressing security interests regionally and around the world," Clarke said. "I want to thank President Abdo Benitez, Minister of Defense Soto Estigarribia, Gen. Gonzalez, and Minister Gonzalez Franco for the opportunity to meet and grow in that partnership. Paraguay is a great friend and we share many of the same security concerns including counterterrorism and addressing transnational criminal organizations. Working together with our Paraguayan teammates strengthens and builds on the already strong relationship to the benefit of both our countries."