Peru expresses interest in joining Trump's 'Americas Shield' against organized crime

Peru's President Keiko Fujimori has expressed her country's strong interest in joining the 'Americas Shield,' an international coalition spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump to combat organized crime. Fujimori conveyed this to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a congratulatory phone call on her recent inauguration.

Fujimori stated that Peru wishes to "form part of the 'Americas Shield,' which seeks to unite the efforts of countries facing organized crime and share information." She emphasized the borderless nature of organized crime, noting that "these types of scourges do not respect borders, they invade continents."

The president highlighted that insecurity has become Peru's primary concern due to the rise of organized crime. This includes widespread extortion targeting both the population and businesses, with criminal gangs demanding payments under threat of death. Public transport, particularly urban buses in Lima, has been severely affected, with over a hundred attacks reported since the beginning of the year.

The 'Americas Shield' initiative aims to foster international cooperation against criminal networks. The inaugural summit, hosted by Trump in Florida in March, was attended by leaders from a dozen countries in the Americas. Peru's potential participation follows similar expressions of interest from Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, who is set to join the initiative upon taking office.