PERU DEFENSE MINISTER: PROBLEMS CREATE U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 004149 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2021 TAGS: PGOV PINR MARR PE SUBJECT: PERU DEFENSE MINISTER: PROBLEMS CREATE U.S. OPPORTUNITIES, RAPPROCHEMENT WITH CHILE REF: A. LIMA 3989 ¶B. LIMA 3709 Classified By: POL David C. Brooks, for Reasons 1.4 (c,d) -------------- Summary: -------------- ¶1. (C) Minister of Defense Alan Wagner told Ambassador on 10/16 that he sees severe problems in the Army, including politicized promotions, a legacy of narco-corruption from the Montesinos era, and downright incompetence in weapons and munitions storage. He requested U.S. technical assistance in the last area, including help in securing MANPADs. The MOD said the Air Force would need to make a decision in the next few years on a new fighter -- the F-16 will be in the mix. Rapprochement with Chile proceeds apace (Refs A, B) and includes plans to form a joint peacekeeping force as well as an agreement on Transparency in Acquisitions, modeled after a similar accord between Chile and Argentina. The MOD's concerns, particularly about the Army, open up further opportunities for U.S military-to-miltary engagement with Peru. End summary. ¶2. (C) Peru's Minister of Defense laid out his priorities and the challenges he faces in a 10/16 meeting with the Ambassador. The MOD's concerns, particularly about the Army, open up further opportunities for U.S military-to-miltary engagement with Peru. -------------- -------------- Promotions and Their Discontents, Narco-Corruption -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) MOD Wagner told the Ambassador that the ongoing promotions season was proving difficult. The MOD has refused to become involved and prefers to de-politicize the process by insisting that the military decide promotions according to established rules. At the same time, he is not happy with what he is seeing. The Army, he said, suffers from poor leadership and is demoralized. Wagner believes that Montesinos-era corruption has tainted virtually all Army officers from Colonel on up. In his opinion, narco-corruption is especially damaging because once an officer becomes involved, he/she never stops. The Air Force is also in bad shape, but does enjoy higher morale. Only the Navy, according to Wagner, has maintained its institutional integrity. -------------- Securing Weapons/Munitions -------------- ¶4. (C) Wagner noted that corruption and incompetence went hand in hand. He cited the recent theft of ammunition and weapons from a weapons and munitions storage facility in Pisco, which he said was intended for the FARC. The security for the facility "was ludicrous," in his words. Only one small lock secured the building, and the key was passed to the NCO on duty. Wagner also cited a similar site he had visited in Tacna, which contained large amounts of explosives and was located only 600 meters from a high population area. Pedestrians pass in front of the lightly-guarded complex. The MOD maintained that misplaced priorities, rather than lack of resources, had resulted in sloppy security. "If you can't protect your munitions, then you shouldn't have a car for the Joint Command," he concluded. Wagner stated that the Defense Ministry needs help urgently in safeguarding munitions including MANPADS, and asked the Ambassador about possible USG technical assistance for physical security. The Ambassador noted that we had offered assistance in securing MANPADS just before the change of government in July and would meet with Vice Minister Novak to reiterate the offer. -------------- Modernization for the Air Force? -------------- ¶5. (C) The MOD said that only three of the FAP's Mirages and three of its Mig-29s actually fly. In this context, the MOD expressed interest in assessing a later model U.S. F-16 through a U.S.-Peruvian exercise and air show. (Note: DAO sources say that the Peruvians' reports of six flyable attack jet aircraft may be too optimistic. End Note.) Wagner said that the Air Force would have to decide on a new fighter or fighter/bomber in the next few years. The F-16 and the latest generation Migs and the Mirage would figure in the assessment. -------------- Rapprochement With Chile -------------- ¶6. (C) The MOD said the military-to-military relationship with Chile was good and was going to get better. This month's 2 2 (Foreign Minister and MOD) talks in Santiago will likely yield far more than just photo ops. Wagner foresees agreements in three areas, all of which have positive consequences for Peru and for Peru's relationship with Chile: --Peru and Chile will form a joint peacekeeping force composed of elements from each country's army. The MOD mentioned that this would not be easy nor quick, and estimated it would take three years. Nevertheless, this would constitute a critical step forward in building mil-to-mil cooperation. It would compel the two countries' armies to form a joint staff and work out command issues. --Peru and Chile will sign an agreement on Transparency in Acquisitions, modeled after a similar agreement between Argentina and Chile, with some specific modifications for Peru. --Peru and Chile will agree to cooperate on search and rescue missions that go beyond their 200-mile maritime boundary. -------------- Comment: -------------- ¶7. (C) The MOD has inherited a military, particularly an Army, that is in dismal shape. He understands this and is eagerly seeking our assistance to correct the deficits in the Peruvian Armed Forces. This creates a solid opportunity for moving ahead in our mil-to-mil relationship and for modernizing the Peruvian military. STRUBLE