Top US spies are sent to a South American nation

The CIA deputy director's unusual visit to Paraguay comes ahead of the general election. Paraguayan President Mario Abdo revealed on Wednesday that he was visited by Deputy CIA Director David Cohen to discuss "national security" matters. Paraguay is one of just 13 countries in the world that recognize Taiwan as "Republic of China" and the upcoming election may put that policy to the test. Abdo's meeting with Cohen was just one in a flurry of US-Paraguay contacts at the highest level this week. Paraguay is one of only 13 countries in the world, and the only one in South America, to recognize Taiwan as the "Republic of China" and exchange embassies with Taipei.

Abdo is not eligible for re-election, but his Colorado Party hopes to stay in power. The US Treasury Department has recently imposed sanctions against Abdo's predecessor Horacio Cartes and the current vice-president Hugo Velazquez, accusing them of "significant" corruption.