OMM Redaksiyası
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Peru will join the US-backed Americas Shield regional security initiative. The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation among countries in combating transnational criminal networks.
The announcement came ahead of Rubio’s planned visit to Lima next week. During the visit, he will meet Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, who was sworn in on July 28.
According to Rubio, Peru’s admission to the initiative signals growing cooperation between Washington and South American countries working to combat organized crime and cross-border security threats.
The Americas Shield framework is expected to improve coordination against drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering and violence linked to organized crime.
Peru’s decision to join the initiative comes after the country was designated a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The status could enable deeper cooperation in defense and security.
Rubio said criminal organizations weaken governance in the region by corrupting institutions, recruiting young people and discouraging investment. Washington views closer cooperation with regional governments as a key element in strengthening stability and security.
US security initiatives in Latin America
Peru is not the only country at the center of Washington’s renewed regional strategy. Rubio began his multi-country tour of Latin America in Colombia, where he discussed expanding cooperation on security and counter-narcotics efforts with President Abelardo De La Espriella.
The Colombian president said his country wants to become one of the United States’ closest security partners in the hemisphere. He requested US support for surveillance, intelligence sharing, radar systems, drones and operations against money laundering.
De La Espriella pledged tougher measures against drug trafficking, including renewed efforts to eradicate coca plantations and dismantle drug production facilities.
Critical minerals and China
Alongside security issues, the Trump administration is placing greater emphasis on economic partnerships in the region. Rubio highlighted growing cooperation with Peru, particularly in critical minerals, which are strategically important for producing electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
Earlier this year, Washington and Lima signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals. The US International Development Finance Corporation later provided financing to support Peru’s mining sector.
One of the main themes in Rubio’s messages ahead of his visit to Peru was China’s growing influence in Latin America. He said Chinese-backed projects could carry political and economic risks that may not be immediately apparent at the initial stage.
Washington says it is offering Latin America an alternative model based on private-sector investment and market-oriented development. The approach comes amid intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China in the region over the past decade.
Trade issues also on the agenda
Rubio’s visit comes as the United States seeks to develop economic agreements with Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The parties are also discussing tensions related to tariffs and market access.
Officials in Colombia hope the new tariffs imposed by the United States will be eased. They believe the tariffs could affect exports to one of the country’s most important markets.
Peru’s decision to join the Americas Shield initiative is being viewed as the latest stage in Washington’s efforts to strengthen its position in the region by combining security cooperation, economic partnerships and diplomatic ties.
