The Government of Paraguay has formally expressed its displeasure and rejection of recent statements made by the Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, regarding the War of the Triple Alliance. In a direct diplomatic response, Paraguay has also requested the return of war trophies and historical documents related to the 19th-century conflict as a gesture of reparation.
The formal note of rejection was delivered this Friday to the Brazilian ambassador in Paraguay, José Antonio Marcondes by the Paraguayan Foreign Minister, Rubén Ramírez, and the Vice President of the Republic, Pedro Alliana. The government’s protest specifically addresses remarks in which President da Silva claimed the war was initiated after Paraguay invaded Brazilian territory.
“A distortion of historical facts”
According to the official communication, the Paraguayan government rejects President Da Silva’s statements “in all their terms”. The note asserts that these expressions present a distorted view of historical events that hold profound significance for the Paraguayan people. Furthermore, the document highlights the need for a more careful and respectful approach to shared history.
From Paraguay’s perspective, the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870) was a catastrophic struggle for national survival in which a small but proud and relatively prosperous republic, led by Marshal Francisco Solano López, was forced to defend its independence and the regional balance of power against the expansionist ambitions of its much larger neighbours, Brazil and Argentina (joined by Uruguay).
Call for the return of historical war trophies
In its response to the Brazilian president’s comments, the Paraguayan government stated that it is an opportune moment “to work together to definitively close the wounds of that tragic conflict.” To this end, Paraguay has made a formal request for the repatriation of significant historical items currently held by Brazil.
After the Allied occupation of Asunción (1869) and the end of the war, Brazilian forces (along with Argentine and Uruguayan ones) seized large quantities of Paraguayan military equipment and symbolic items as trophies. Contemporary Brazilian accounts recorded hundreds of cannons, dozens of flags and banners, swords, and personal or ceremonial objects linked to Francisco Solano López and his government.
“For this, we consider that the return of the President López Cannon, the Christian Cannon, the other war trophies, as well as the delivery of copies of all historical documents about the War of the Triple Alliance held in the Archives of the Federative Republic of Brazil, will constitute an appreciated gesture of reparation towards Paraguay,” the official note declares.
Vice president addresses the dispute
The Paraguayan government also informed Brazil that both chambers of its legislative branch have independently issued statements entirely rejecting President Da Silva’s remarks. Following the delivery of the note, Vice President Pedro Alliana addressed the matter in a press conference. He emphasised that distorting historical facts does not contribute to consolidating the common future of their peoples. On the contrary, Alliana stated, it revives old afflictions that affect the dignity of their citizens.
“It is for this reason that we must work together to definitively close the wounds of the past, to approach that stage of our history with prudence, with responsibility and, above all, with adherence to historical truth,” Alliana stated.
Reaffirming bilateral relations
The Vice President also noted that Paraguay and Brazil share a long history of cooperation and a common agenda of great importance for the development of their nations. He took the opportunity to reaffirm Paraguay’s commitment to maintaining a positive and productive relationship with its neighbour.
“Therefore, we reaffirm our willingness to maintain a frank, respectful, and constructive dialogue. History should not be a cause for division between our peoples, but a lesson, a starting point for building a future of understanding, prosperity, and cooperation for Paraguay and Brazil,” the Vice President concluded.
