Peru joins Escudo de las Américas to combat transnational crime

Peru has officially joined the Escudo de las Américas, a multilateral cooperation initiative led by the United States to combat transnational organized crime. The decision was announced during a visit to Lima by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Foreign Minister Carlos Espá defended the move, stating that the alliance is a mechanism involving more than 15 countries designed to protect national sovereignty and address threats such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, money laundering, and environmental contamination. Espá rejected the notion of a “false dichotomy” between strengthening ties with the U.S. and maintaining economic relations with China, asserting that the two are not incompatible.

The decision has sparked internal debate regarding Peru's strategic autonomy. While some legislators support the move as a necessary step to combat borderless criminal networks, others have raised concerns about the potential geopolitical implications of aligning more closely with Washington in a region where China holds significant economic influence.