Peru and the United States Advance F-16 Block 70, Callao and Space Cooperation

Following a meeting between Peru’s Defence Minister, Rafael Belaúnde Llosa, and the United States Ambassador, Bernie Navarro, the arrival of F-16 Block 70 aircraft, preparations for the El Niño phenomenon, the modernisation of the Port of Callao and the development of a new space centre emerged as key strands of a bilateral relationship undergoing redefinition. The discussion highlighted an increasingly wide-ranging agenda, in which defence and security cooperation sits alongside interests in strategic infrastructure, technological development and competition for influence in sectors regarded as sensitive by both countries.

The meeting is particularly significant amid changes in US representation in Lima. Bernie Navarro formally took up his post as US Ambassador in February 2026, and security, defence and strategic investment have since featured prominently on the bilateral agenda. The bicentenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries also provides a framework that Lima and Washington have used to advance new cooperative initiatives extending well beyond their conventional military relationship.

F-16 Block 70 aircraft and defence cooperation

A central issue is the Peruvian Air Force’s future acquisition of F-16 Block 70 aircraft. In April, the Peruvian Government announced its selection of 12 newly built aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin as part of its combat aviation modernisation programme. According to Navarro, the fighters are expected to arrive between 2029 and 2030. Their potential delivery would bring in a platform fitted with new radar systems, avionics and weapons, while also deepening interoperability with the United States and the extensive international network of Fighting Falcon operators.

Callao modernisation and strategic infrastructure

Maritime and port matters represent another important component of the agenda. During the meeting, the modernisation of Callao was identified as an area in which the United States intends to broaden its cooperation with Peru. US interest is not new: in January 2026, a possible transaction worth up to US$1.5 billion was authorised to provide design, construction, engineering, logistics and equipment services for the development of maritime and land facilities at Callao Naval Base. The project is intended to upgrade the infrastructure required for future naval and logistics operations, while reducing the overlap between civil and military activity within the complex.

However, placing the Port of Callao on the bilateral agenda also reveals a broader dimension. For the United States, Peruvian port infrastructure forms part of an agenda linking security, trade, investment and logistics capacity. Callao’s strategic importance as the country’s principal maritime complex, as well as the location of major naval and industrial modernisation projects, means that any cooperative initiative carries significance beyond the strictly military sphere. In this context, greater US involvement and presence in strategic infrastructure projects also becomes a source of tension and competition for influence at one of South America’s leading Pacific hubs.

Space cooperation and El Niño preparedness

Space cooperation was another major subject addressed by Belaúnde and Navarro. Planned initiatives include establishing a Peruvian-US space consortium, assigning a Peruvian officer as a liaison to US Space Command, and providing support to complete a national space strategy with a ten-year outlook. The agenda also includes the donation of a high-powered telescope by the end of 2026, together with expanded scholarships in fields including aerospace engineering, astrophysics and cybersecurity. These measures would consolidate cooperation intended to cover scientific, commercial, civil and defence dimensions.

These developments are linked to the precedents established by Peru’s accession to the Artemis Accords and to projects aimed at developing a spaceport in the country. In 2024, Peru’s Ministry of Defence promoted the possibility of converting Talara Air Base, in the Piura region, into a spaceport or space centre through a project involving substantial investment and the participation of state bodies responsible for encouraging investment. The initiative would expand Peru’s space capabilities and strengthen its ties with the United States in an area of growing strategic importance, although it could also require a reorganisation of the military activities historically conducted at the facility.

Preparations for the El Niño phenomenon, meanwhile, complete a cooperative picture in which security takes on a broader meaning. Washington announced measures to reinforce Peru’s ability to respond to flooding and other emergencies, including risk-management workshops, the pre-positioning of humanitarian supplies, mobile bridges and upgrades to regional emergency communications centres. These initiatives are supplemented by the announcement that the hospital ship USNS Comfort will be deployed, reflecting the continuing importance of humanitarian aid and natural-disaster response within the bilateral relationship.

Taken together, the meeting between Minister Rafael Belaúnde and Ambassador Bernie Navarro illustrates the scope of the new phase in relations between Peru and the United States. From F-16 Block 70 aircraft and cooperation on El Niño to Callao and the prospective space centre, Washington and Lima are advancing an agenda that combines military modernisation, humanitarian assistance, strategic infrastructure and technological development. Nevertheless, this expansion also underscores the geopolitical dimension of some areas-especially those concerning ports, logistics and involvement in strategic sectors-which could turn bilateral cooperation into a further arena for competition and tensions over influence in Peru and the Pacific region.