Peru to join US anti-drug coalition ‘Shield of the Americas’ after Rubio visit

LIMA, Sept 10 (Reuters) – Peru will join the U.S.-led "Shield of the Americas" coalition against drug cartels, President Keiko Fujimori said on Thursday during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit, deepening cooperation and tightening security ties with Washington early in her presidency.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Fujimori said Peru's participation in the coalition would speed intelligence-sharing and bolster joint action against criminal groups operating across borders.

Rubio welcomed Lima's decision, saying the initiative was meant to "shield the region" from organizations that threaten the sovereignty of countries across the hemisphere. He reiterated that the region was a priority for Washington.

"U.S. getting involved in the region is not a favor. It is essential to our own security, to our own prosperity, to our own well-being in America. And this administration is committed to this," he said, adding there would be more similar initiatives.

The top U.S. diplomat's trip to Peru, the last stop of a three-country swing to Latin America that also included Ecuador and Colombia, is the highest-level U.S. visit to the country since President Donald Trump returned to office in 2025.

The visit, which focused on counternarcotics, migration and trade, comes as Washington seeks…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/