Peru Joins US-Led Shield of the Americas Anti-Drug Initiative

Peru formally joined the Shield of the Americas regional anti-drug initiative during a meeting between President Keiko Fujimori and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Lima, the final stop of Rubio's South American tour. The move signals deepening U.S.-Peru security cooperation and a shift in Peru's international alignment, though the specific commitments and operational scope remain unclear. This is a notable expansion of U.S. influence in the region amid ongoing counternarcotics efforts.