Perus President Postpones F-16 Fighter Jet Deal, Top Ministers Quit Immediately

Two cabinet-level ministers in Peru have resigned following an announcement by interim President Jose Maria Balcazar that he would defer a decision on purchasing F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. Defence Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela cited disagreement with the move as the reason for their resignations.

In a statement, Diaz wrote that a strategic decision had been taken regarding national security with which he had fundamental disagreements. Balcazar announced last week that he would leave the decision on investing $3.5 billion in the purchase to the next elected leader, citing concerns about committing such a large sum of money during his transitional period.

The US ambassador to Peru, Bernie Navarro, responded to the announcement by warning that any deal with the US in “bad faith” would be met with action to protect and promote US interests. Navarro stated that the bid for the F-16 jets was made at a high level of competitiveness and that every delay results in significant costs.

The purchase of 24 fighter jets has been a source of controversy, with critics questioning whether it is a sign of deference to US President Donald Trump. The decision to spend $3.5 billion on the jets was made in 2024 under former President Dina Boluarte, and the US Department of Defense had previously approved a potential sale.

The instability in Peru’s presidency comes as the Trump administration seeks greater influence over Latin America, part of what the US president has called his “Donroe Doctrine”. The US has also pushed Peru to distance itself from Chinese investment.

Source: Al Jazeera