Peru's Ministers Resign Over F-16 Jet Deal Delay

In a move highlighting Peru's deepening political turmoil, two top ministers resigned on Wednesday in protest over interim President Jose Maria Balcazar's decision to postpone a $3.5 billion deal to purchase 24 F-16 fighter jets from the United States. The resignations of Defense Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela came days after Balcazar canceled a planned signing ceremony for the initial batch of 12 aircraft, leaving the final decision to the country's next elected leader.

Balcazar, who assumed office in February as Peru's ninth president in a decade amid a string of impeachments, announced the delay last week, stating that a transitional government should avoid binding future administrations to such a significant financial commitment. "For us to commit such a large sum of money to the incoming government would be a poor practice," Balcazar said. He emphasized that Peru remains committed to ongoing negotiations with the U.S. armed forces and the relevant ministry but believes the next president, set to take office on July 28, should oversee the process.

The deal, originally approved by the U.S. Department of Defense in September 2024 under former President...