Peruvian foreign relations have been dominated by border conflicts with neighboring countries, most of which were settled during the 20th century. Currently, Peru disputes its maritime limits with Chile in the Pacific Ocean.

Disputed maritime claims between Peru and Chile

In November 1999, Peru and Chile signed three agreements which put to rest the remaining obstacles holding up implementation of the 1929 Treaty of Lima, which officially ended the 1879 War of the Pacific. In December 1999, President Alberto Fujimori made the first visit ever to Chile by a Peruvian head of state.

Peru is an active member of several regional blocs and one of the founders of the Andean Community of Nations. It is also a participant in international organizations such as the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Peru has been a member of the United Nations since 1949 and Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar served as UN Secretary General from 1981 to 1991.

Former President Fujimori’s tainted re-election to a third term in June 2000 strained Peru’s relations with the United States and with many Latin American and European countries but relations improved with the installation of an interim government in November 2000 and the inauguration of Alejandro Toledo in July 2001, after free and fair elections.

Peru is planning full integration into the Andean Free Trade Area. In addition, Peru is a standing member of APEC and the World Trade Organization, and is an active participant in negotiations toward a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).