Peru–United States relations explained

Filetype:svg
Envoytitle1:Peruvian Ambassador to the United States
Envoytitle2:American Ambassador to Peru
Envoy2:Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath
Envoy1:Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velásquez
Mission1:Embassy of Peru, Washington, D.C.
Mission2:Embassy of the United States, Lima

The Republic of Peru and United States of America (USA) established relations following Peru's independence from Spain in 1826. In the twenty-first century the two countries have become close partners, collaborating in trade with a free trade agreement and in limiting the trafficking of narcotics into the United States.

Both countries are part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, as well as the Organization of American States.

History

Twentieth century

Through the Cold War, the United States focused its foreign policy of promoting anti-communism in Peru instead of assisting with democratic efforts.[1]

During the administration of Ronald Reagan, Peru felt ignored by the U.S. government. When President Fernando Belaunde Terry visited President Reagan in Washington in 1983, Reagan met with the Peruvian president for only thirty minutes, with one of Reagan's aides saying "[President Belaunde] wasn't even offered a cup of tea".

Relations reached their lowest point during the United States invasion of Panama of 1989 when Peru recalled its ambassador in protest of American military actions.[2] [3] However, relations were restored and have recovered and vastly expanded in the decades since.

The United States strongly supported the presidency of Alberto Fujimori under Plan Verde, of which Fujimori mainly served as a figurehead for Vladimiro Montesinos, a Peruvian intelligence official with deep links to the Central Intelligence Agency. The United States also supported Fujimori through his seizure of power and an internal insurgency.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Twenty-first century

Though the American government had originally expressed strong support for his government, relations were strained following the tainted reelection of former President Alberto Fujimori in June 2000.

After the abrupt ending to Fujimori's third term and the installation of an interim government in November 2000, relations improved. Relations remained positive during the administration of Alejandro Toledo who took office in July 2001, and during that of Alan García.

In 2002, nine people died when a car bomb detonated by suspected rebels in the Peruvian capital just days before a visit from American President George W. Bush.

During its time as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2006 to 2007,[9] Peru—despite having refrained from openly participating in George Bush's "War on terror" itself—alongside the U.S. and the West, repeatedly voted in favor of extending the authorization mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan,[10] [11] and increasing sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.[12] [13]

The U.S. and Peruvian governments criticized North Korea's 2006 nuclear test. Peru urged North Korea to unconditionally return to the six-party talks and to suspend all activity related to its nuclear program.

In 2007, Peruvian Foreign Minister José Antonio García Belaúnde said that his country opposed America's occupation of Iraq, and called for the immediate withdrawal of US military forces from the country, noting that the Iraqi situation was very complex and that the invasion had been a mistake.

In 2008, Peru joined the U.S. and its allies in recognizing Kosovo,[14] and ultimately refused to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia,[15] yet opposed the U.S. and Israel by recognizing Palestine in 2011, claiming "no pressure from any side".[16]

In reaction to the Libyan Civil War, Peru became the first country to cut ties with Libya "until the violence against the people ceases" as a result of the aerial bombing of Tripoli.

Upon the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, Garcia credited the death of bin Laden to late and recently beatified Pope John Paul II, saying, "His first miracle was to remove from the world the incarnation of evil, the demonic incarnation of crime and hatred..." He also said that bin Laden's death "vindicates [former U.S. President] George W. Bush's decision to punish Bin Laden and patiently continue this work that has borne fruit".[17]

In 2012, the Cuzco Consulate assisted a group of American backpackers who were attacked by Peruvian villagers who suspected the group were "cattle rustlers".[18]

Peru's Deputy Foreign Minister José Beraún Araníbar condemned "the excesses committed by the government of Syria" in a 2012 interview, stressing that Peru saw a political dialogue as the only viable means of peace enforcement and supported a joint UN/Arab League initiative to this effect, indicating Peru would not likely support a U.S. intervention.[19]

In June 2013, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala visited the White House and together with U.S. President Barack Obama promised to strengthen ties between both nations, including in the fight against narcotics trafficking and in tightening economic ties.[20]

The US government condemned Pedro Castillo's attempted self-coup in December 2022 and welcomed the appointment of Dina Boluarte as president.[21] [22] Castillo eventually alleged that the United States aided his removal.[23] [24] [25] The US also initially supported Boluarte amidst civil unrest against her government and allegations of authoritarianism.[26] Relations have deteriorated under the government of her after the U.S condemned Peru for human rights violations.[27] 15 Democratic members of Congress also condemned the Peruvian government, expressing concern over the 'authoritarian' practices Congress of the Republic.[28] Relations were further complicated after President Joe Biden was widely criticized for describing Boluarte's government as democratic, while democratic backsliding has reportedly hit an all time high in Peru.[29] [30] [31]

In November 2024, President Joe Biden traveled to Peru to attend the APEC Summit held in Lima.[32]

Resident diplomatic missions

Diplomatic missions of Peru in the United States[33]
Diplomatic missions of the United States in Peru[34]

Trade and economy

U.S. investment and tourism in Peru have grown substantially in recent years. The U.S. is Peru's number one trade partner, and economic and commercial ties will deepen if the U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) is passed by the U.S. Congress. About 200,000 U.S. citizens visit Peru annually for business, tourism, and study. About 16,000 Americans reside in Peru, and more than 400 U.S. companies are represented in the country.

Strategic partnerships

Illicit substances

The United States and Peru cooperate on efforts to interdict the flow of narcotics, particularly cocaine, to the United States. Bilateral programs are now in effect to reduce the flow of drugs through Peru's port systems and to perform ground interdiction in tandem with successful law enforcement operations. These U.S. Government-supported law enforcement efforts are complemented by an aggressive effort to establish an alternative development program for coca farmers in key coca growing areas to voluntarily reduce and eliminate coca cultivation. This effort is funded by the Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Military

Peru remains part of SICOFAA (whose creation was proposed by the Peruvian Air Force in 1964) and the Rio Pact, requiring it and the U.S. to assist each other in case of attack, and continues to be a regular participant in RIMPAC, an international maritime military exercise led by the U.S. to promote stability throughout the Pacific in the event of potential conflicts ranging from China invading Taiwan or North Korean aggression against its neighbors.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Riding . Alan . 1984-12-30 . Debt Is Undermining Democracy in Peru . en-US . The New York Times . 2020-07-19 . 0362-4331.
  2. Book: La democracia negociada: las relaciones Perú-Estados Unidos (1980-2000) . McClintock . Cynthia . Instituto de Estudios peruanos . 2005 . 9972511251 . 117 . Vallas . Fabián.
  3. News: Perú retira a su embajador en Washington . 1989-12-21 . Boletín de Prensa Latinoamericana.
  4. Web site: August 2002 . Spymaster . 29 March 2023 . . en . Lester: Though few questioned it, Montesinos was a novel choice. Peru's army had banished him for selling secrets to America's CIA, but he'd prospered as a defence lawyer – for accused drug traffickers. ... Lester: Did Fujmori control Montesinos or did Montesinos control Fujimori? ... Shifter: As information comes out, it seems increasingly clear that Montesinos was the power in Peru..
  5. McMillan . John . Zoido . Pablo . Autumn 2004 . How to Subvert Democracy: Montesinos in Peru . . 18 . 4 . 69-92 . 10.1257/0895330042632690 . 219372153 . free . 10419/76612 . free .
  6. https://publicintegrity.org/national-security/cia-gave-at-least-10-million-to-perus-ex-spymaster-montesinos/ "CIA Gave $10 Million to Peru's Ex-Spymaster Montesinos
  7. News: Hall . Kevin G. . 3 August 2001 . CIA Paid Millions to Montesinos . 1 . . Miami.
  8. Book: Alfredo Schulte-Bockholt . The politics of organized crime and the organized crime of politics: a study in criminal power . Lexington Books . 2006 . 978-0-7391-1358-5 . 114–118 . Chapter 5: Elites, Cocaine, and Power in Colombia and Peru . important members of the officer corps, particularly within the army, had been contemplating a military coup and the establishment of an authoritarian regime, or a so-called directed democracy. The project was known as 'Plan Verde', the Green Plan. ... Fujimori essentially adopted the Green Plan and the military became a partner in the regime. ... The self-coup, of April 5, 1992, dissolved the Congress and the country's constitution and allowed for the implementation of the most important components of the Green Plan.
  9. https://www.un.org/en/sc/members/elected.shtml Countries Elected Members of the Security Council
  10. [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1707]
  11. [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1776]
  12. [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737]
  13. [United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747]
  14. http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=1sAKaqHrT6M= Peru formally recognizes Kosovo as independent state
  15. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia_recognition.svg/2000px-Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia_recognition.svg.png International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/25/peru-recognises-palestinian-state Peru recognizes Palestinian state
  17. News: Peru leader credits late pope for bin Laden death . Forbes.com . May 2, 2011 . May 2, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110504230241/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/02/general-lt-bin-laden-peru-john-paul-ii_8445463.html . May 4, 2011 .
  18. News: John Hall . 4 February 2013 . Bound, beaten and robbed: Backpackers attacked by whip-brandishing Peruvian villagers in 'savage' two day ordeal . subscription . live . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bound-beaten-and-robbed-backpackers-attacked-by-whipbrandishing-peruvian-villagers-in-savage-two-day-ordeal-8480069.html . 2022-05-25 . 6 February 2013 . The Independent.
  19. http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_25/Russia-Peru-and-Ecuador-join-voices-on-Syria/ Russian, Peru and Ecuador join voices on Syria
  20. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323495604578539820380845516 U.S., Peru Presidents Pledge to Fight Trafficking
  21. News: 2022-12-08 . U.S. says welcomes appointment of Boluarte as Peru's President . en . Reuters . 2023-11-06.
  22. News: Castillo moves to dissolve Peruvian Congress, it impeaches him . 2022-12-07 . . en.
  23. Web site: 19 December 2022 . They denounce US interference in the dismissal of Pedro Castillo . Ultimas Noticias.
  24. Web site: 16 December 2022 . La Jornada: Se reúnen embajadora de EU y ministro de Defensa antes del golpe . 3 January 2023 . . es-MX.
  25. Web site: 11 December 2022 . Pedro Castillo denuncia en una carta "plan maquiavélico" en su contra . 2022-12-14 . . es.
  26. Web site: 2023-07-22 . Protests resume against US-backed Boluarte regime in Peru . 2023-11-06 . World Socialist Web Site . en.
  27. Web site: 20 March 2023 . EE. UU. señala un "problema" de impunidad ante abusos policiales en Perú . 2023-03-28 . La República . es.
  28. Web site: Vega . Renzo Gómez . 2023-07-29 . US Democrats pressure President Dina Boluarte over Peru's human rights violations . 2023-07-30 . . en-us.
  29. Web site: Vasquez . Laura . 2023-08-01 . Boluarte recibe respaldo de Biden pese a que congresistas denunciaron vulneración de derechos en protestas . 2023-08-02 . . es.
  30. Web site: Paucar . Luis . 2 August 2023 . Joe Biden ratifica respaldo a Dina Boluarte: "Espero con interés continuar nuestra colaboración" . 2023-08-02 . . es-ES.
  31. Web site: 2023-01-30 . Dems urge Biden to halt aid to Peru over protest crackdown . 2023-11-06 . AP News . en.
  32. https://apnews.com/article/peru-apec-biden-xi-china-trump-trade-c9883061b53ab82f5630a3bd6fcf87fa Asia-Pacific summit closes in Peru with China’s Xi front and center as Trump whiplash looms
  33. https://www.gob.pe/embajada-del-peru-en-estados-unidos Embassy of Peru in Washington, D.C.
  34. https://pe.usembassy.gov Embassy of the United States in Lima

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