Paraguay - Military Doctrine

The military had two primary functions: national defense (including internal order) and engaging in civic action programs as directed by the president. Paraguay had a strong military tradition, and the nation took great pride in its performance against Argentina in 1811, in the 1865-70 War of the Triple Alliance, and in the Chaco War of 1932-35 against Bolivia. The military tradition remained a valued one, even though the country had faced little if any external threat since the Chaco War.

There is no serious security threat to the Paraguayan Government either from abroad or internally, nor does any threat of an insurgency nature appear likely within the time period under consideration. The military play an important role in maintaining internal security. Additionally, the Paraguayan Armed Forces contribute to social and economic improvement through civic action programs in such areas as internal transportation, road construction, medical services, potable water, vocational education and mapping.

The armed forces under Stroessner were chiefly occupied in preserving internal security and supporting the regime. The military was also charged with guarding Paraguay's borders and protecting against insurgency, which had been limited to the 1959-64 period and was largely ineffective. In addition, the armed forces devoted a large portion of their resources to civic action and rural development. In keeping with the limited external threat, the military was equipped mainly to meet public order and internal security assignments. Reflecting the nation's troubled economy and the absence of significant threats, defense spending in the 1980s had not kept up with inflation. Most military equipment had thus grown more and more outdated.

The country enjoyed unprecedented internal security under Stroessner, and conditions of public order could generally be characterized as peaceful. This level of order came about, however, largely as a result of the government's willingness to use whatever means it deemed necessary to quell disorder and suppress dissent. From 1954 until April 1987, the government ruled almost continually under state-of-siege provisions. These provisions suspended in the name of security civil rights guaranteed in the Constitution. The government justified the extraordinary security measures as the price of peace in a "democracy without communism," even though the nation had not faced a credible communist threat since at least the mid- 1960s.

The capacity of the state to deliver public services is low, especially in rural areas. Indeed, many isolated areas in poorer regions, especially those previously mentioned, lack not only adequate basic social provision (healthcare, education, water, and electricity), but also state presence and authority. This has been exacerbated by the withdrawal of the army from certain areas since the end of the dictatorship, and the lack of resources available for the police to replace them or to provide a countervailing influence to protect the interests of citizens. Regions that lack effective state sovereignty are prime areas for the growth of arms and narcotics smuggling, marijuana production, and increased presence of mafias connected with the above, especially in border regions. The absence of the state is such that one senior government official argued that rather than focus on the details of decentralization of the state, the primary concern should be the construction of the state, in terms of presence and service delivery throughout the country.

Paraguay's military is a small force struggling to redefine its mission while it endures insufficient funding, scandals, and frequent and questionable leadership appointments. The Navy has a law enforcement mission on Paraguay's rivers. The military's primary mission is to protect Paraguay's territorial integrity, defend the legitimate authorities in accordance with the Constitution, and cooperate in civil defense. It does not have a lead role in counter-drug operations; however, the military provides a specialized tactical unit to support SENAD. The military's Special Forces unit was in the process in 2005 of organizing a company- size counterterrorism unit, and the Presidential Guard Unit has a specialized counterterrorist platoon.

Paraguay has attempted to increase its presence in peacekeeping operations. It sought Spanish support to deploy a 200 person contingent to Haiti subsequent to a failed attempt to get sufficient Brazilian support.

The military has remained subordinate to civilian authority and has remained in their barracks. When called, it has supported law enforcement activities, public health campaigns and provided transportation assistance for farmers to bring their products to market. The military is still seen as the first to be called whenever there is a "crisis," and many Paraguayans feel "safer" when the military is out on the streets with the police. The role of the Presidential Guard created controversy. With its own armor, artillery and other material, and better trained troops, it is the strongest unit in country and acts independently.

These have included the increased influence of mafias connected with drugs and contraband, and the attempts to circumvent the democratic system with a military insurrection in 1999 and an attempted coup d’état in 2000. Strong civilian defense of democracy, the increasing professionalization of the armed forces, and a strong national and international consensus against military intervention suggests that extra-constitutional plots to gain power would not be successful.