Peru is deepening its security ties with the United States, having recently authorized the presence of U.S. military personnel within its borders through the end of 2026. The move, approved by the Peruvian Congress and signed into law by President José Jerí, allows for joint training exercises and support activities involving a range of U.S. special forces and security personnel. This authorization follows Peru’s designation as a “major non-NATO ally” by the U.S. and signals a strengthened collaboration on security matters between the two countries, including the growth of a new national citizen security plan with assistance from the FBI.
The Peruvian government has authorized the entry of U.S. military personnel for joint exercises through 2026, a move that underscores increasing security cooperation between the two nations. The authorization allows the American service members to carry weapons.
The Peruvian Congress approved the measure on December 4, and it was officially published Sunday in the official gazette, El Peruano. This development comes as Peru seeks to strengthen its security ties with the United States.
According to the resolution, personnel from the U.S. Department of Defense will conduct training, support, and assistance activities with Peruvian security forces from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
The U.S. military personnel will be deployed in rotating groups, changing every three to six months throughout the year.
These units will include members of special forces, the Navy’s SEAL Team, civil affairs specialists, and military information support personnel.
Peru Authorizes Entry of U.S. Military for 2026
Peruvian entities involved in the collaboration will include the Joint Command of Intelligence and Special Operations (Cioec), the Joint Special Forces (FEC), the Navy’s Special Operations Forces (FOES), and the Air Force’s Special Forces Group (Grufe).
Additionally, the first, third, and sixth brigades of the Army’s Special Forces, as well as specialized units of the National Police of Peru (PNP), such as the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes), the Anti-Drug Directorate (Dirandro), and the Special Group Against Organized Crime (Grecco) will participate.
El Congreso peruano aprobó, con 73 votos a favor, la presencia de personal militar de Estados Unidos en Perú a lo largo de 2026. La decisión habilita el ingreso de efectivos armados del Departamento de Guerra bajo el Plan Bratton. La medida generó un intenso debate por lo que… pic.twitter.com/f4g4WEjyJi
— DEF (@defrevista) December 14, 2025
The resolution was signed by Peruvian President José Jerí and the President of Congress, Fernando Rospigliosi, a day after Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela confirmed that the Donald Trump administration had notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to designate Peru as a “major non-NATO ally.”
De Zela stated that such a designation is “fundamentally a political gesture, declaring that Peru is a reliable country in security and defense matters,” which will place the Peruvian Armed Forces “in a privileged position of cooperation and facilities (…) regarding military cooperation with the United States.”
On Wednesday, Peruvian President José Jerí held a working meeting at the Government Palace in Lima with a delegation from the FBI and other U.S. security experts as part of the development of a new national citizen security plan.
The Peruvian government said this was “the first of several consultative meetings” to be held this month between representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Defense, as well as the PNP, with the U.S. delegation of experts.
