From commercial ties to political ties: the challenges of Peru and the US after 200 years of friendship

It details that Peru exported 2,182 different products to that country in 2025. However, there is a high concentration of the figures in a few items. “The 50 main products we export to USA They concentrate 90% of the total. There is diversification, what we are missing is gaining scale, increasing volume. For that, business growth is needed,” he adds.

Other areas where joint opportunities can be explored include the defense and infrastructure sector, especially the Corillo port project, in Punta de Bombón, Arequipa. Cooperation also occurs at the space level, a bond that dates back to 1974 and that was renewed in recent years with an alliance focused on the development of a space port in Talara (Piura) and greater progress in scientific research.

Tourism is another area that represents a challenge. USA It was the main country sending tourists to Peru, but since the pandemic this changed and today the northern giant occupies second place behind Chile, which makes it necessary to work to recover the market United States.

The political challenge

Although experts emphasize that Peru must have good relations with all countries, in the case of USA The bond no longer points only to the commercial. Former Foreign Minister Francisco Tudela points out that it is indisputable that the Trump Administration is privileging the Pacific, both in the military strategic field and in the commercial field, since – he explains – the historical development and the future are now manifest in that part of the world.

Washington’s new objectives in the region were clear with the national security strategy document published by the White House at the end of 2025, which established increasing influence in the Western Hemisphere as an urgent priority. After that, Trump proposed Peru as a main non-NATO ally.

“Peru is in the center of the west coast of South America. It has 20 usable ports, five borders. It is enormously important for Peru to understand the geopolitical position it has today, in the 21st century, for its historical future. It is now at the forefront of the competition between United States and China. And that is extremely important. Now the axis of power is in the Pacific and that completely changes the strategic and geopolitical position of Peru,” warns Tudela.

With ties on so many fronts, specialists see some outstanding debts of our country and essential to improve any cooperation. The first is to increase the fight against corruption and the second is to leave chronic political instability behind, since only a solid government capable of promoting reforms will be able to take advantage of so many strategic opportunities.