Thursday, September 10, 2026 - Secretary of State Marco Rubio has wrapped up his three-country South America tour with Peru joining the U.S.-led “Shield of the Americas” coalition targeting drug cartels and transnational criminal groups.
The agreement, announced during Rubio’s visit to Lima, is designed to strengthen intelligence-sharing and coordinate operations against criminal networks operating across borders.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said the partnership would strengthen her government’s ability to confront organized crime while maintaining the country’s sovereignty.
Rubio, meanwhile, emphasized that Washington sees closer cooperation with regional allies as essential to tackling threats linked to drug trafficking and organized crime. Peru’s decision follows similar moves by Colombia and Ecuador to deepen security cooperation with the United States.
Rubio’s tour through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru signals a sharper U.S. focus on security across the region. Beyond counternarcotics, the talks covered migration, defense and trade, while Washington is also seeking stronger strategic ties with governments it sees as key partners.
Peru’s entry into the coalition could significantly expand regional coordination against powerful criminal networks and put the fight against drug trafficking higher on South America’s security agenda.
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