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Paraguay Missions
The nation faced no foreseeable external threat in late 1988 and
took care to maintain workable diplomatic relations with its large
neighbors, Brazil and Argentina. Relations with Bolivia, which had
sometimes been slightly strained over issues related to the shared
border in the Chaco, had not been viewed as a serious threat to
national security since the Chaco War. The threat of insurgent
activity appeared low, and no incidents of guerrilla activity had
been reported since a limited number of minor incursions took place
in the early 1970s. Consequently, the external defense mission of
the armed forces was essentially limited to monitoring the nation's
borders.
The internal security mission was far more significant. Military
units frequently were called out to control demonstrations or
handle other manifestations of unrest. The military also maintained
checkpoints in the sparsely populated Chaco region as part of the
government's administration of the area.
All three branches of the armed forces were involved in civicaction projects. The army's engineer battalions were responsible
for road construction and the maintenance of transportation routes.
The engineers also built schools and public buildings for rural
communities, did excavation work, constructed water tanks, and
provided bricks and tiles for local building projects. The navy
performed ship repair for the merchant fleet, and naval vessels
transported goods to needy communities at no cost. The air force
provided transportation services and helped build schools and
landing fields in isolated areas. Medical personnel from all three
services operated rural clinics and offered free emergency medical
treatment. The army's veterinary unit was the nation's only public
veterinary service. All three services were active in disaster
relief efforts.
Data as of December 1988
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