Peru joins US-led ‘Shield of the Americas’ security alliance

Peru’s new government has committed to joining the Shield of the Americas, a US-led coalition that the State Department and regional partners say will coordinate intelligence and military efforts against drug trafficking organizations. President Keiko Fujimori announced the decision following meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Lima, where the US diplomat was presented with one of Peru’s highest civilian honors, the Order of the Sun. Rubio, who described the initiative as a regional bulwark against powerful transnational criminal groups, framed the coalition as a way for states to confront organizations that in some cases possess greater resources and weaponry than national forces. The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition has promoted a more assertive, military-focused approach to combating organized crime, and Rubio used his visit to praise Peru’s decision to participate. The move comes amid growing concern in Peru about violent crime and extortion; the country is the world’s second-largest producer of cocaine after Colombia, and security was central to Fujimori’s election campaign. Her administration’s closer ties with Washington have drawn protests in Lima, where demonstrators warned against increased US military involvement and said the arrangement could threaten national sovereignty. Rubio sought to address those worries publicly, saying the United States would act only at the request of local authorities. Still, the decision has broader geopolitical implications: the Trump administration has signaled a desire for tighter economic and security ties with allies in the region and has urged partners to reduce dependence on China, which has sizable investments in Peru including a major port project near Lima. Earlier this year Washington designated Peru a major non-NATO ally and approved a possible $1.5 billion foreign military sale related to work at Peru’s Callao Naval Base, underscoring expanding US-Peru security cooperation.