Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met Monday with Peru’s Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo and Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer at the Pentagon for a bilateral discussion focused on advancing military cooperation and reinforcing regional security efforts. The high-level talks underscored the Biden administration’s stated focus on the Western Hemisphere as a strategic priority.
According to a readout issued by Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Sean Parnell, the meeting was “productive” and highlighted shared defense interests between the United States and Peru. The dialogue addressed existing military collaboration and explored ways to increase interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
Hegseth emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in Latin America, particularly with countries contributing to regional stability. The Secretary recognized Peru’s ongoing efforts to enhance defense cooperation with the United States and reaffirmed that “the Western Hemisphere is a top priority for the President and the Department of Defense.”
Officials also discussed a range of regional security issues, including joint defense initiatives, potential training programs, and coordination on transnational threats. Both sides expressed a mutual interest in expanding bilateral military activities and strategic alignment in the region.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from both the U.S. and Peruvian delegations to continue building on established defense cooperation and to seek new opportunities for collaboration.
Strengthening U.S.-Peru military cooperation
The engagement marks a continuation of growing U.S.-Peru defense relations, with previous interactions centered around humanitarian missions, counter-narcotics operations, and disaster response. Peru has long been considered a key partner in South America due to its strategic location and active participation in multilateral security forums.
While no new defense agreements were announced, the tone of the meeting reflected a shared interest in furthering the existing framework for cooperation. Both parties pledged to maintain open lines of communication and explore future initiatives that promote mutual security objectives.
The Department of Defense has increasingly engaged with regional partners in Latin America amid rising concerns over global competition and transnational threats. The latest dialogue with Peruvian officials aligns with broader efforts to secure democratic partnerships across the hemisphere.
Peru’s ministers also held separate discussions with other U.S. defense and foreign policy officials during their visit, though details of those meetings were not disclosed.
The visit is expected to lead to follow-on talks in the coming months, with potential joint military exercises and additional strategic planning sessions under consideration.
