Israel Invites Paraguay, Panama and Bolivia to Join Isaac Accords
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the presidents of Paraguay, Panama and Bolivia to join the Isaac Accords, as Israel seeks to expand a new framework for cooperation with countries in Latin America.
The New York meeting
Netanyahu met Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira in New York following his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24. The meeting followed separate talks with Argentine President Javier Milei, whose government launched the Isaac Accords with Israel in April.
What the Isaac Accords are
The Isaac Accords were formally announced by Israel and Argentina on April 19. The original declaration describes them as a framework for cooperation between Israel, Argentina and other like minded countries in the Western Hemisphere, with an emphasis on counterterrorism, combating antisemitism and drug trafficking, international coordination, innovation, technology and trade.
The agreement also specifically identifies Iranian attempts to develop networks and an operational presence in the Western Hemisphere as an area of concern.
An invitation, not accession
According to the Israeli account of the September meeting, Netanyahu invited the three leaders to join the initiative. There was no indication by the research cutoff that Paraguay, Panama or Bolivia had formally acceded to the accords.
Panama's presidency independently confirmed the meeting and provided additional details about the potential areas of cooperation. It said Netanyahu expressed Israel's willingness to work with the three countries on security, technology, artificial intelligence and drones. President Mulino raised possible cooperation against organized crime and drug trafficking, while the governments agreed to identify priority areas for future work.
That distinction matters. The September talks represent an effort to broaden the framework, but an invitation is not the same as accession.
What it shows
The development nevertheless shows Israel attempting to turn increasingly close relationships with several Latin American governments into a more structured network involving security, technology and economic cooperation.
