Across the Atlantic, a different kind of crisis is unfolding. Peru’s Balcázar government was rocked by the simultaneous departure of its Defense Minister and its Chancellor, both linked to a controversial purchase of American military aircraft. The Defense Minister reportedly tried to submit a resignation, only to discover he had already been fired. The scandal prompted an urgent visit by the US Ambassador to Peru, who met with Prime Minister Luis Arroyo at the Presidential Cabinet Office — a highly unusual diplomatic intervention that underscores Washington’s sensitivity about arms deals in the region.
Peru’s Government in Freefall Over Fighter Jet Deal
