"F-16 purchase contract" tears apart Peruvian government

According to the Spanish newspaper "El Pas" website reported on April 23, the controversy surrounding the Peruvian government's plan to purchase 24 F-16 fighter jets from the United States has exposed the vulnerability of the leadership of the transitional government led by President Jos Barcasa, as well as the interests relationship between Peru and the United States. Barcasa is the third transitional government president in Peru in the past five years and will lead the transitional government until the new president takes office in July of this year. The report stated that Barcasa has always been against purchasing these fighter jets from the Lockheed Martin company in the United States. Since the cancellation of the contract signing ceremony on the 17th, Barcasa has reiterated at least four times that he will leave the procurement decision to the next elected government because he believes it is a major commitment that should not be made by the transitional government. His stance has caused serious divisions within the leadership. Prime Minister Luis Arroyo, Defense Minister Carlos Daz, and Foreign Minister Hugo de Sela have urged Barcasa to continue pushing forward with this purchase plan. Some politicians have warned that if the purchase is stopped, Peru may face punishment from the United States. Others support Barcasa's cautious approach, pointing out that there are more urgent priorities for the country than acquiring high-value military equipment for the air force.