Peru's defense and foreign ministers resign after the president stalls US military planes deal
The ministers quit after Balcazar said the next government should decide on the purchase, deepening confusion over a deal already hit by a $462 million payment.
- On Wednesday, Peruvian Defense Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela resigned in protest after interim President Jose Maria Balcazar stalled a $3.5 billion deal to purchase 24 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets.
- Interim President Balcazar canceled a signing ceremony last Friday, citing concerns about binding the next government to a major defense commitment before he leaves office in July.
- Despite the president's opposition, officials signed contracts on Monday, with de Zela claiming the delay "endangers our country and undermines its credibility" in a negotiation process.
- U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro warned that Washington would use "all available tools" against any party that negotiates "in bad faith" with the United States.
- The procurement has become entangled in a chaotic election period, with the country awaiting a June runoff to determine who will face frontrunner Keiko Fujimori for the presidency.
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The controversy over the purchase of 24 F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft from the U.S. government has exposed the fragility of Peru's President José María Balcázar's leadership, internal tensions in the executive branch, and an obvious alignment with Washington's interests. Two of his ministers publicly disavowed him, accused him of lying, and ended up imposing on his decision to postpone an acquisition worth 3.5 billion dollars.
Peru Tries to Impeach 9th President in 10 Years, Election Results Nowhere in Sight
Peruvian lawmaker Ilich López on Wednesday announced that he will collect signatures from his peers to start an impeachment process against Marxist interim President José María Balcázar over his handling of an F-16 fighter jet deal with the U.S. The post Peru Tries to Impeach 9th President in 10 Years, Election Results Nowhere in Sight appeared first on Breitbart.
(AFP) Peru is facing a new political crisis following the resignation on Wednesday of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, amid a disagreement with the interim president José María Balcázar about the purchase of F-16 fighter aircraft from the United States. Despite the President’s declared desire to suspend this acquisition, the Ministry of Economy announced on the night that it had transferred $462 million as part of the first payment …
F-16 row sparks resignations as Peru halts US$3.5b deal with US
LIMA, April 23 — Peru’s foreign and defense ministers resigned on Wednesday in protest over the interim president’s decision to stall a US$3.5 billion (RM13.87 billion) deal for the purchase of 24 US F-16 fighter jets.The ministers said the deal had already been signed and that to cast doubt on it now jeopardized Peru’s reputation as a trading partner.Despite the president’s declared wish to suspend the purchase, the Ministry of Economy announce…
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