U.S. Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd, commander of U.S. Southern Command, chats with Paraguay President-elect Mario Abdo Benitez during a private meeting at the U.S. military headquarters July 30. Abdo Benítez, Tidd and other senior leaders discussed the U.S.-Paraguay defense partnership. The close collaborative ties between the United States and Paraguay include many decades of strong security cooperation based on common interests, shared goals and mutual respect. (U.S. Southern Command photo by Juan Chiari)