(Jan. 23, 2025 / JNS) It has been difficult at times to stand with the Jewish state and with the United States in Latin America, particularly during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. But it has been important to adhere to “the right values and principles,” Santiago Peña, the president of Paraguay, told JNS on Tuesday night.

“Paraguay has been fighting for freedom, for democracy, for many of the right causes thanks to Jewish and Israel influence for centuries,” Peña told JNS. “Sometimes, it’s tough, but when you stick to it, it will absolutely pay off.”

Peña, who was in Washington for U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, spoke to JNS during the launch, which happens every two years, of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus. The event, held in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building, drew about 150 people, including European, African and Latin American representatives.

When Peña visited Jerusalem in December to reopen the country’s embassy there, he fulfilled “the desire of the entire Paraguayan population,” he told JNS during the event.

“We are here in this great moment for the United States, for the Western hemisphere, and, of course, for the entire world,” he said. “We’re very happy to team up with the U.S. government, to work together on all these causes.”

Paraguay, Honduras and Guatemala represent half of the embassies in the Israeli capital. Peña told JNS he hopes to further expand Latin American-Israeli relations.

“There is so much that we should do. Of course, we want to put the war and the terrorist attacks behind us, to look into building a strong relationship in so many areas,” he said. “What Israel has done, and thanks to the hardship and the needs that they have developed, they have all this innovation and creativity.”

“We have to offer a continent that is full of natural resources, with a great potential for the future,” he added. “Combining innovation, technology and knowledge with this great amount of natural resources, I think that we could do great things.”