Peru joins ‘Escudo de las Américas’ security coalition

Marco Rubio has formalized the incorporation of Peru into the ‘Escudo de las Américas’, a regional security coalition led by Washington to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. This agreement marks a new hemispheric alignment between the United States and the incoming conservative administration of Keiko Fujimori.

The partnership carries significant geostrategic weight for Washington. Peru possesses critical resources, including lithium and copper, which the U.S. seeks to secure as it attempts to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on Chinese minerals. Additionally, the Chancay port, built with Chinese capital, serves as a major logistics node in the South Pacific.

On the security front, the U.S. Department of State has pledged increased support to combat transnational criminal organizations, including the ELN, Los Choneros, and Tren de Aragua. However, the long-term stability of this cooperation may be challenged by domestic political factors in Peru, including Fujimori’s narrow electoral victory and a cabinet where many ministers face legal investigations.