U.S. Advances Security Ties With Peru, Colombia
Under Secretary Thomas G. DiNanno's trip to Peru and Colombia included a nuclear cooperation memorandum and new security funding.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in International Relations
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Under Secretary Thomas G. DiNanno traveled to Peru and Colombia from November 1-7, 2026, to advance security cooperation. The United States also signed a Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with Peru during the trip.
Why it matters
The trip reflects expanding U.S. security and civil nuclear engagement with Latin American partners, with grant financing directed at partner economies of strategic interest. The arrangements set frameworks for deeper defense and nuclear collaboration in the region.
The U.S. committed $20 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Foreign Military Financing for Peru's F-16 aerial refueling capability, with $4.5 million in prior-year funding for the Port of Callao design phase. The media note does not specify disbursement timelines, and the scope of any future microreactor deployment is not yet defined.
The players
Thomas G. DiNanno
A U.S. Under Secretary who led the delegation to Peru and Colombia on security and nuclear cooperation.
Guillermo Shinno
Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, who signed the Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the United States.
The details
DiNanno opened the inaugural bilateral FIRST workshop in Peru and signed the nuclear memorandum with Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, Guillermo Shinno. In Colombia, he met defense and justice ministers, the vice foreign minister and the National Police director, presided over delivery of firearms training simulators, and visited U.S. and Colombian troops in the Southern Vanguard exercise involving about 800 participants.
Timeline
November 1-7, 2026: DiNanno's trip to Peru and Colombia.
November 12, 2026: Office of the Spokesman issued the media note on the trip.
Big Picture
The trip puts into practice the grant financing authority of Executive Order 14299, which expands U.S. funding for American nuclear technology pilots and fuel supplies in partner economies of strategic interest. The Peru memorandum is one of the first bilateral arrangements to apply that authority in Latin America.
For readers following U.S. foreign policy, the trip signals where security and nuclear funding are being directed in Latin America. Changes to civil nuclear cooperation could affect future energy and technology partnerships, though specific timelines were not announced.
The takeaway
The trip shows U.S. security assistance and civil nuclear cooperation being pursued together in Latin America. Readers should watch for follow-up disbursements and any announced microreactor projects in Peru.
Further reading
Explore more on International Relations to see how this trip fits into broader U.S. diplomacy in the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GlobalSecurity.
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