Peru's arms purchase from the U.S. sparks controversy: the president wants to delay, defense and foreign ministers resign

Peru’s President Balcázar recently said that the purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets has been postponed, triggering pressure from the U.S. side. On the 22nd, Peru’s Defense Minister Carlos Díaz and Foreign Minister Hugo Deselza resigned in succession because they were dissatisfied with Balcázar’s decision. On the 22nd, Balcázar delivered a speech in Lima, the capital of Peru, saying that the matter of purchasing American fighter jets will be decided by the new administration. He said the postponement is intended to ensure that public funds are used “reasonably and properly,” and emphasized that he has no intention of confronting the United States.

According to Peruvian media reports, the two senior officials who resigned said that the contract for the purchase of F-16 fighter jets had already been signed, but that Balcázar’s announcement of the delay would leave the decision to the new administration. During an interview, Deselza said that postponing the purchase “harms the country’s credibility.” Díaz said that he resigned because he disagreed with the decision to pause the purchase of fighter jets, adding that this procurement concerns “the strategic needs of national security and defense.” Balcázar had previously said on the 17th that the amount for this military procurement project is enormous and would bring the country a “very heavy” debt burden, and suggested that the new administration handle it.

In response, U.S. Ambassador to Peru Bernie Navarro posted a threat on social media, saying that if the Peruvian government lacks sincerity when negotiating with the U.S. and harms U.S. interests, as a representative of the Trump administration, he “will surely use every available means” to respond.

This February, Peru’s then-president Heri was impeached by Congress. Balcázar, the then-speaker of Congress, took over as president and led the transitional government until the new president took office in July this year. ( Xinhua News Agency )