Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori and Chilean President José Antonio Kast urged stronger regional cooperation against transnational organized crime at the U.N. General Assembly. Fujimori called for criminal networks to be designated as terrorist groups to allow military support for police, while Kast highlighted practical coordination under initiatives such as the Compromiso de Santiago. Both leaders pointed to an upcoming Shield of the Americas meeting in New York as part of broader efforts to combat drug trafficking and cross-border criminal networks.
Peru and Chile Urge Stronger Regional Response to Transnational Crime at U.N. General Assembly
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori speaks Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly 81st session General Debate at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Photo by Peter Foley/UPI
In separate addresses to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 22, the presidents of Peru and Chile called for deeper regional coordination to tackle transnational organized crime, stressing the need to align security policies, share intelligence and synchronize law-enforcement operations across borders.
Calls for Tougher Measures
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori proposed that transnational criminal organizations be formally designated as terrorist groups, arguing such a classification would create a legal framework enabling the armed forces to support national police in confronting networks that threaten domestic security.
"These organizations are terrorist groups and must be confronted for what they are: enemies of the democratic state and law-abiding citizens," Fujimori said, describing how drug trafficking, illegal mining, smuggling, human trafficking, extortion and killings have sown fear across Latin America.
Fujimori warned that treating the problem as isolated to each country allows criminal networks to strengthen themselves, and she framed regional collaboration as essential to reversing that advantage.
Regional Coordination in Practice
Chilean President José Antonio Kast emphasized that Latin American governments are moving beyond rhetoric toward concrete cooperation. He highlighted the Compromiso de Santiago, an agreement promoted by Chile to strengthen coordination against organized crime, and noted Peru's participation in the initiative.
"For the first time in a long time, Latin American governments are truly coordinating, not only through statements, but by getting to know one another and coordinating to generate concrete actions against transnational organized crime," Kast said.
Both presidents referenced the Shield of the Americas, a coalition launched during the Trump administration to coordinate regional efforts against drug trafficking and transnational criminal networks. According to Chilean outlet Emol, a Shield of the Americas meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT in New York.
Peru formally joined the initiative this month after Fujimori met with U.S. officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, in Lima. Chile participates as an observer but has not formally joined; Kast said he planned to attend the New York meeting if it did not conflict with his U.N. schedule.
Kast added that the cooperation effort "does not interfere with the sovereignty of countries," describing it as a means to coordinate responses to a growing transnational challenge that many nations were unprepared to face alone.
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