ASUNCION (Reuters) – Paraguay is negotiating with Brazil to buy six Embraer Super Tucano A-29 fighter jets for $96 million as part of its efforts to combat drug trafficking, Defense Minister Oscar Gonzalez said , On thursday.
The deal is part of a $500 million package that the South American country’s government is allocating for defense and security projects, Gonzalez told reporters.
“Our goal is (to close the deal) this year,” said Gonzalez, adding that the agreement, negotiated between the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments, would be used to face “new threats” from drug trafficking and organized crime.
The government issued a decree on Thursday authorizing the operation, without public bidding, although Gonzalez said the process still needs to be approved in Congress.
Days earlier, neighboring Uruguay said it was in “very advanced” negotiations to buy six of the same Embraer combat planes to reinforce its armed forces.
(Reporting by Daniela Desantis; writing by Sarah Morland; editing by Alexander Villegas and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez)
