Peru announced an air security agreement with the US on Saturday in what the government described as a push to stop planes belonging to drug gangs from entering the South American country’s airspace.
The deal revives a bilateral security cooperation pact with the US from 20 years ago, according to a government statement, and will permit new intelligence and training support to flow to Peru’s air force.
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Sign InIt covers upgrades to two dozen helicopters and radar equipment, with the statement also citing “intense collaboration” with the US, but without disclosing the cost of the security assistance.
The US Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The statement cited Peruvian defence minister Jorge Chávez, who stressed that airspace interdictions efforts under the agreement will be carried out via nonlethal means.
An earlier air security pact between the countries was suspended two decades ago after Peru’s air force shot down a plane it had misidentified, killing two US citizens.