U.S. Embassy in Peru

US Pledges Black Hawk Helicopters to Peru at Ceremony Celebrating 40 Years of Bilateral Security Partnership

On November 16, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols, U.S. Ambassador to Peru Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, and Peruvian Minister of the Interior Juan José Santiváñez presided over a landmark ceremony at Jorge Chávez International Airport.  The event highlighted U.S. plans to transfer nine UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Peru to strengthen the country’s counternarcotics efforts.  This assistance package, valued at approximately $65 million, will enable the delivery of the helicopters over a five-year period, significantly enhancing Peru’s capacity to combat illicit drug trafficking.

The U.S. government, through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, invests approximately $40 million annually to support Peru’s fight against narcotics trafficking and transnational crime.

This event marks a new chapter in the enduring security partnership between the United States and Peru, a relationship that began in 1989 when the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs began collaboration with Peru.  The addition of Black Hawk helicopters represents a critical step for Peru to strengthen the capabilities of its air fleet and assume greater operational control over its aviation resources to safeguard its territory and ensure its national security—a priority shared by both countries in their commitment to countering transnational criminal organizations and narcotrafficking.

This milestone was reached in August, when U.S. Ambassador Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath and Peruvian Minister of the Interior Juan José Santiváñez signed an agreement laying the groundwork for the planned transfer of the helicopters.  On November 6, the Peruvian Congress ratified this agreement, paving the way for Peru to eventually assume full operational and financial control of these essential aerial resources.  On November 14, President Boluarte formally approved the agreement, marking a significant milestone in its implementation.

Over the next five years, the United States plans to deliver extensive training for Peruvian pilots, mechanics, and crew members to ensure the Black Hawk fleet is operated and maintained safely and effectively.  This training is a fundamental part of empowering Peru to sustain its enhanced capabilities in the fight against narcotrafficking.

During the ceremony, Assistant Secretary Nichols, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Peru from 2014 to 2017, underscored the U.S. commitment to modernizing Peru’s operational capacity and recognized the importance of U.S.-Peru security cooperation.  He noted that these helicopters will bolster Peru’s ability to disrupt drug trafficking but also represent the strong bond between the United States and Peru in promoting security, stability, and prosperity across the region.