LIMA, Peru (AP) 鈥� Peru鈥檚 defense and foreign ministers resigned Wednesday following an announcement by the country’s interim president to for U.S. F-16 fighter jets to his successor who will emerge from a .
Last week, interim President said he lacks the legitimacy as a temporary leader to make the commitment to buy 24 fighter jets manufactured by U.S.-based and that his successor should make the decision.
鈥淔or us to commit such a large sum of money to the incoming government would be a poor practice for a transitional government,鈥� Balc谩zar said at the time.
U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro reacted to the announcement, saying on X that if Peru 鈥渘egotiates in bad faith鈥� or undermines U.S. interests, he would take measures at his disposal. He did not elaborate.
On Wednesday, both Defense Minister Carlos D铆az and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela stepped down.
D铆az’s resignation letter, obtained by The Associated Press, said that postponing the purchase 鈥渃ould compromise” Peru’s interests. Both ministers said at a news conference that they had unsuccessfully tried to persuade Balc谩zar to follow through on the deal.
D铆az said that even without Balc谩zar’s approval, officials from the Ministry of Defense signed the contract on Monday for the purchase of the aircraft, as stipulated under the deal.
Speaking to a local radio station, de Zela accused Balc谩zar of misleading the public about the contract. D铆az noted that specific details of the deal remain undisclosed because of their classified nature.
In 2024, the government of then-President announced that Peru would allocate $3.5 billion to the purchase of 24 fighter jets through domestic borrowing of $2 billion in 2025 and $1.5 billion in 2026. Among the companies that submitted bids were, in addition to Lockheed Martin, the Swedish Saab and the French Dassault Aviation.
Peru鈥檚 Congress in February elected Balc谩zar as the country鈥檚 , replacing another interim leader who was over corruption allegations just four months into his term.
Peru is holding a presidential runoff on June 7 even as votes are still being counted and officials are sifting through tally sheets arriving from remote areas and Peruvian consulates abroad following the first round on April 12.
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