Peru will join the “Shield of the Americas”, a coalition led by the Donald Trump administration to combat transnational criminal organizations, following a meeting between President Keiko Fujimori and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The announcement was made on Thursday in Lima, during a joint conference in which both governments highlighted the need to broaden intelligence exchange and security cooperation.
Fujimori argued that the incorporation will allow Peruvian authorities to obtain information more quickly and respond more firmly to criminal groups operating across borders. “We, who have had to face terrorism, know the need to unite efforts with other countries,” said the president, who assured that Peru’s sovereignty will remain intact with the membership of the initiative.
Meet with President Keiko Fujimori in Lima to welcome Peru’s entry into the Shield of the Americas and discuss security and investment cooperation for the shared economic prosperity of our countries. pic.twitter.com/P3ZQ2s1UVy
Rubio presented criminal organizations as a threat that is no longer limited to a single country and claimed that some have financial resources and weapons that exceed those of the security forces in the region. “We’re glad you were elected president, you promised to face this, and we’re going to help you as much as we can,” Rubio told Fujimori.
The U.S. official argued that the security of the hemisphere has become a priority for the Trump administration and that Washington seeks to work with governments willing to combat these groups. “We do not want to act unilaterally, they are terrorist groups that extortion the people, they do all kinds of crimes, they are groups that we have to defeat,” he said.
Rubio also made it clear that any U.S. cooperation in Peruvian territory must be carried out with the authorization of the Lima government and within its laws. “We will not do anything that is outside the legal framework of your country or beyond what the government requests,” he said.
Fujimori added that any entry of foreign troops requires specific permission from the Peruvian Congress.
Peru joins the Shield of the Americas to strengthen the struggle against transnational organised crime.After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Keiko Fujimori announced the incorporation of Peru into this mechanism. pic.twitter.com/NBY7g6Np61
The new alliance adds to other recent steps to strengthen the ties between Washington and Lima. In January, the United States designated Peru as a major non-NATO ally, while the State Department approved a possible military sale of $1.5 billion for design and construction work at the Callao Naval Base.
The cooperation also includes support for possible emergencies related to the El Niño phenomenon. Fujimori that the U.S. hospital ship Comfort will arrive in Peru in February 2027 to provide assistance to the northern population of the country.
Rubio’s visit also takes place as Lima seeks to reduce the impact of new U.S. tariffs on Peruvian products such as peanut, grapes and avocados. At the same time, Chinains a strong economic presence in Peru, in mining and infrastructure. Trade between the two countries grew 35% during the first half of the year, above the increase recorded with the United States.
The Chinese embassy in Lima responded to Rubio’s visit by pointing out that “the western hemisphere is not the ‘back yard’ of anyone.”
Rubio, however, insisted that Washington’s policy towards Latin America will not be merely diplomatic. “Our participation in the region is not a favor; it is essential for our own security, our own prosperity, for our own well-being in the United States of America,” he said. The incorporation of Peru into the “Shield of the Americas” thus represents a new security approach between Lima and Washington, while both governments seek to expand their trade and strategic cooperation as well.
