Peru joins US-led 'Shield of the Americas' security alliance

Peru will join the 'Shield of the Americas', a regional security alliance led by the United States that focuses on intelligence sharing and military cooperation against drug cartels. Keiko Fujimori, Peru’s newly elected leader, announced the decision on Thursday following discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Fujimori stated, 'We appreciate this opportunity [to join the initiative], because for us, having previously had to tackle terrorism, [we] know how difficult it is to confront criminality today.' During the visit, Fujimori awarded Rubio the Order of the Sun, one of Peru’s highest civilian honors. Rubio's visit to Lima concluded a three-day tour of South America aimed at strengthening ties between US President Donald Trump and conservative leaders in the region. He praised the decision to join the alliance, also referred to as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC), which advocates for increased military involvement in combating crime. Rubio remarked, 'It is a shield against these threats to the sovereignty of these independent nations,' emphasizing the need to confront transnational criminal groups. Fujimori, who took office in July, has focused on security issues, as Peru is the second-largest producer of cocaine globally, following Colombia. Reports of crimes such as extortion have increased in recent years. However, US involvement in the region has raised concerns due to its historical interventions and support for leaders accused of human rights violations. Al Jazeera correspondent Teresa Bo noted that this cooperation has generated fears regarding the erosion of Latin American sovereignty. Rubio addressed these concerns, stating that the US would only intervene with local authorities' consent. Despite this, protests occurred in Lima during the meeting, with demonstrators expressing opposition to US influence. Protester Soledad Lozano stated, 'We have said that Peru is nobody’s colony, and it is not the back garden of any country in the world.' The Trump administration has also encouraged Peru to reduce its ties with China, which has become its primary trading partner. In February, the administration criticized Peru for allowing China to build a mega-port in Chancay, warning that 'cheap Chinese money costs sovereignty.' Bo explained that China has significant investments in Peru, controlling a port near Lima, while the US aims to increase its presence in Latin America and reduce economic dependency on China. Peru is vital to US security and economic interests in the region, being the third-largest producer of copper. In January, the US designated Peru as a major non-NATO ally and approved a potential $1.5 billion military sale for enhancements at Callao Naval Base, Peru’s main naval hub near Lima.