LIMA — Peru’s cabinet was hit by high-level resignations on April 22, 2026, as the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs stepped down following a dispute over the nation's air defense strategy. The departures of Carlos Díaz Dañino and Hugo de Zela were triggered by interim President Jose Maria Balcázar’s decision to postpone a $3.5 billion acquisition of F-16 fighter jets, a move that has stalled one of the most significant military procurement programs in the country’s history.
The controversy centers on a plan to purchase 24 F-16 fighter jets from the American aerospace firm Lockheed Martin Corp. The Peruvian government had reportedly reached the final stages of negotiations and was prepared to sign the contract last week. However, President Balcázar intervened at the last minute, announcing that the final decision would be deferred to the next administration, which is scheduled to take office later this year. Balcázar justified the delay as a measure of fiscal and political prudence during a transitional period, but the decision met immediate resistance from within his own cabinet.
Defense Minister Carlos Díaz Dañino submitted a formal resignation letter citing significant discrepancies regarding the handling of national security assets. A strategic decision has been made on a matter of national security over which I maintain significant discrepancies, Díaz Dañino stated. Although his letter did not explicitly confirm whether he favored the immediate signing, his resignation is widely interpreted as a protest against the executive's interference in a long-vetted military modernization program. The Peruvian military has consistently advocated for the F-16 fleet to replace its aging inventory of Soviet-era aircraft, viewing the upgrade as essential for maintaining regional defense parity.
Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela also resigned, expressing complete disagreement with the President’s shift in policy. In his resignation letter, de Zela characterized the deferral as a sudden change of political decision adopted by you on a matter of a strategic nature. He further warned that the decision to halt the deal could gravely affect national interests. Diplomatic sources indicate that the Foreign Ministry had prioritized the F-16 deal as a means to solidify strategic and military cooperation with the United States, a relationship that de Zela viewed as critical to Peru’s long-term security architecture.
The $3.5 billion deal represented more than just the delivery of 24 airframes; it included comprehensive training packages, infrastructure upgrades, and a multi-year maintenance agreement with Lockheed Martin. The sudden vacancy of two key cabinet posts leaves the Balcázar administration in a precarious position as it navigates its final months. While the President maintains that the deferral ensures democratic legitimacy for the large expenditure, the resignations highlight a deep rift between the interim leadership and the institutional pillars of defense and diplomacy.