Peru–United States relations

Peru–United States relations (Spanish: Relaciones Perú-Estados Unidos) are the bilateral relations between the Peru and the United States. The independence of Peru from Spain was recognized by the United States on May 2, 1826.

Peruvian–American relations

Peru	United States
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Peru, Washington, D.C.	Embassy of the United States, Lima
Envoy
Peruvian Ambassador to the United States Hugo de Zela	American Ambassador to Peru Lisa S. Dougherty Kenna

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. However, relations were restored and have recovered and vastly expanded in the decades since.

According to various global opinion polls, Peruvian public perception of the United States is very positive, with 70% of Peruvians viewing the U.S. favorably in 2015 (compared to 67% in 2002 and 62% in 2005)[1] and 55% of Peruvians viewing American influence positively in 2013.[2] According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 34% of Peruvians approve of U.S. leadership, with 27% disapproving and 39% uncertain.[3]

Country comparison

	Republic of Peru	United States of America
Flag
Coat of Arms
Anthem	Himno Nacional del Perú	Star-Spangled Banner
Area (total area) (according to Encyclopædia Britannica)	1,285,216 km^2 (19th)	9,525,067 km^2 – 9,833,517 km^2 (4th)
Population Density	25/km^2 (65/sq mi)	34/km^2 (87/sq mi)
Capital	Lima	Washington, D.C.
Largest City	Lima – 9.735.587 (Estimated 2014 population (INEI))	New York City – 8,405,837 (19,949,502 Metro) (2013 United States Census estimates[4])
Government	Unitary presidential constitutional republic	Federal presidential constitutional republic
First Leader	José de San Martín	George Washington
Current Leader	Francisco Sagasti	Joe Biden
Official languages	Spanish, (Co-official languages) Quechua, Aymara and other languages	None, English (de facto)
Main religions	76.03% Roman Catholic, 18.48% Other Christian, 0.40% Other religions, 5.09% non-religious	43% Protestantism, 20% Roman Catholic, 2% Mormonism, 2% Judaism, 1% Islam, 1% Hinduism, 1% Buddhism, 3% Other religions, 26% Unaffiliated, 2% Unanswered
Ethnic groups	60.2% Mestizo, 22.3% Quechua, 5.9% White, 3.6% Black/Mulatto, 2.4% Aymara, 0.3% Native or indigenous to the Amazon, 0.2% Asháninka, 0.2% Part of another Indigenous, 0.2% Aguaruna/Awajún, 0.1% Shipibo-Conibo/Konibo, 0.1% Japanese (Nikkei), 0.1% Chinese (Tusan), 1.1% Other, 3.3% Don’t know / no response	60.1% White American, 18.5% Hispanic and Latino Americans (of any race), 13.4% African American, 5.9% Asian American, 2.8% Multiracial, 1.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
GDP (nominal) (2020 estimate)	$195,761 billion (48th)	$20,807 trillion (1st)
GDP (nominal) per capita (2020 estimate)	$5,845 (86th)	$63,051 (5th)
GDP (PPP) (2020 estimate)	$385,719 billion (47th)	$20,807 trillion (2nd)
GDP (PPP) per capita (2020 estimate)	$11,516 (103rd)	$63,051 (7th)
Gini (2012)	48.1 (32nd)	47.7[5] (39th)
HDI (2019)	0.759 (high) (82nd)	0.920 (very high) (15th)
Currency	sol (S/)	United States dollar ($)
Peruvian Americans	16,000 American-born people living in Peru	684,345 People of Peruvian origin living in the United States
Military Troops	346,000	2,205,050
English Speakers	unknown	283,160,411 (95.4% of the total population)
Labour Forces	16,160,000	160,400,000
Telecommunications (Mobile Phones)	34,235,000	380,577,529

Bilateral relations

Peru enjoys strong and cooperative relations with the United States. Relations were strained following the tainted re-election of former President Alberto Fujimori in June 2000, but improved with the installation of an interim government in November 2000 and the inauguration of the government of Alejandro Toledo in July 2001. Relations with President Alan García's administration were positive, and that continued to be the case with the administration of the former president, Pablo Kuczynski. The United States continues to promote the strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights safeguards in Peru and the integration of Peru into the world economy.

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).

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. The U.S. maintains an embassy in Lima. There is a U.S. Consular Agency in Cuzco, and the USAID building is located in Lima. The current U.S. ambassador is Krishna Urs.

The Cuzco Consulate assisted a group of American backpackers who were attacked by Peruvian villagers who suspected the group were "cattle rustlers".[6]

21st century

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (center left) meets with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra (center right) in Lima in April 2019

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 a potential conflicts ranging from China invading Taiwan or North Korean aggression against its neighbors.

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 (see 2002 Lima bombing).

During its time as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2006 to 2007,[7] Peru (despite having refrained from openly participating in the Global 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,[8][9] and increasing sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.[10][11]

The U.S. and Peruvian governments criticized North Korea's 2006 nuclear test; according to an official notice issued by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "This is a serious event, that violates the effective moratorium for nuclear tests, constitutes a threat to international peace and security and aggravates the tensions in the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeastern Pacific." The note also remarked that, "as a state member of the Security Council, the Government of Peru considers that, in accordance with the Chart of the United Nations, this situation must be examined through the existing multilateral mechanisms". Peru urged North Korea to unconditionally return to the Six-Party Talks and to suspend all activity related to its nuclear program and also reiterated its "firm commitment with non-proliferation efforts, and the suitable mechanisms for the promotion of the strategic stability, international peace and security".

In 2007, Peruvian Foreign Minister José Antonio García Belaúnde said that his country opposes America's occupation of Iraq, and called for the immediate withdrawal of US military forces from that country: "We are against the invasion of Iraq, and hope the military forces will leave that country soon to bring sovereignty back," noting the Iraqi situation is very complex and the invasion was a mistake of Washington.

In 2008, Peru joined the U.S. and its allies in recognizing Kosovo,[12] and ultimately refused to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia,[13] yet opposed the U.S. and Israel by recognizing Palestine in 2011, claiming "no pressure from any side".[14] 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. Peru's President Alan García stated, "Peru strongly protests against the repression unleashed by the dictatorship of Muammar al-Gaddafi against the people who are demanding democratic reforms to change the government which has been led for 40 years by the same person." Garcia said that Peru would ask the UN Security Council to establish a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent the use of the country's warplanes against the population.[15]

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".[16]

While Peru's Deputy Foreign Minister José Beraún Araníbar condemned "the excesses committed by the government of Syria" in a 2012 interview,[17] Peru later joined Ecuador and Russia in taking a common stance on the Syrian civil war, with Araníbar stating, "The principle of non-interference has been adopted and advocated by the United Nations and Peru means to keep to it in the Syrian case," also 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.[18]

In June 2013, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and U.S. President Barack Obama promised to strengthen ties between both nations, including in the fight against narcotics trafficking and in tightening economic ties.[19]

See also

• Peruvian Americans

References

1. Pew Global Indicators Databse: Peru.
2. 2013 World Service Poll BBC
3. U.S. Global Leadership Project Report - 2012 Gallup
4. Sam Roberts (April 5, 2012). "Population Growth in New York City Is Outpacing 2010 Census, 2011 Estimates Show". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
5. "United States". The World Factbook. CIA. September 30, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2010. (area given in square kilometers)
6. John Hall (4 February 2013). "Bound, beaten and robbed: Backpackers attacked by whip-brandishing Peruvian villagers in 'savage' two day ordeal". The Independent. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
7. Countries Elected Members of the Security Council
8. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1707
9. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1776
10. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737
11. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747
12. Peru formally recognizes Kosovo as independent state Andina
13. International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
14. Peru recognizes Palestinian state guardian.co.uk
15. "Peru suspends diplomatic relations with Libya". www.peruviantimes.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
16. "Peru leader credits late pope for bin Laden death". Forbes.com. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
17. Peru minister condemns excesses of Syrian regime Arab News
18. Russian, Peru and Ecuador join voices on Syria Voice of Russia
19. U.S., Peru Presidents Pledge to Fight Trafficking June 11, 2013 WSJ

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35762.htm#relations.

External links

• History of Peru - U.S. relations

Further reading

• De Ferrari, Gabriella. Gringa Latina: A Woman of Two Worlds (Houghton Mifflin, 1996).
• Packel, John. "Peruvian Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America, edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 3, Gale, 2014), pp. 467–476. online
• Paerregaard, Karsten. “Inside the Hispanic Melting Pot: Negotiating National and Multicultural Identities among Peruvians in the United States.” Latino Studies 3 (2005): 76–96.