Peru's F-16 Freeze Sparks 2 Minister Resignations

Peru’s defense minister and foreign minister resigned on April 22 after interim President Jose Maria Balcazar said he would leave a planned U.S. fighter-jet purchase to the next government, according to Japan Today and Associated Press reporting. The dispute centers on a proposed F-16 deal that Peru has linked to a broader effort to modernize its aging air force.

Key developments

• Defense Minister Carlos Diaz and Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela stepped down after Balcazar said a transitional government should not lock in such a large purchase before power changes hands. AP reported the package at about $3.5 billion and said the next president will emerge from a June 7 runoff.

• The political clash followed Balcazar’s public decision to defer the purchase of 24 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets. In a separate AP report, Balcazar argued that committing the incoming administration to a major defense contract would be inappropriate for a temporary leader.

• The deal itself did not appear out of nowhere. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in September 2025 that the State Department had approved a possible sale to Peru of F-16 aircraft and related support valued at an estimated $3.42 billion. That notice covered 12 aircraft in the initial U.S. foreign military sale framework, even as Peru’s wider modernization plan has been discussed in terms of 24 jets.

• Reporting on the fallout has also pointed to diplomatic friction. AP said U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro warned that Washington could respond if Peru negotiated in bad faith, adding pressure to what is already a sensitive handover-period decision.

What to watch

The next key update is whether Peru’s interim government leaves the fighter purchase entirely untouched until the next administration takes office in July, or whether more details emerge about what had already been negotiated before Balcazar intervened. That matters because the resignations suggest the disagreement was not just procedural but also tied to how far the process had already advanced.

Another unresolved point is how the next president treats the F-16 plan after the June 7 runoff. The official U.S. approval remains on the record, but final procurement decisions still depend on Peru’s political leadership, financing choices and the terms it is willing to carry forward.

Sources

• Japan Today
• Associated Press: ministers resign after F-16 delay
• Associated Press: Balcazar defers fighter purchase
• U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency: Peru - F-16 Aircraft