Press Release: Peru’s Disaffiliation with Libya–More Than Meets the Eye

On February 21, 2011, Peru surprised the international community by formally suspending its diplomatic ties with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, insisting that they would not be restored until the violence against the civilian population was halted. While other Latin American nations responded in various ways to Gaddafi’s flagrant and erratic behavior, Peru is the lone hemispheric nation that has officially cut off relations with Libya. 

Peruvian President Alan García declared diplomatic links “suspended” as a means of protesting the unprecedented violence that Gaddafi has unleashed on his own people. Furthermore, García posted on his official website that his intentions were to speak with UN Security Council officials in order to create an internationally-mandated air exclusion zone over Libya. This would prevent the use of Libyan warplanes to carry out raids against the civilian population. Additionally, it would allow other nations—such as the United States, which are currently banned by Libyan authorities from traversing its airspace—that chartered planes could safely evacuate their foreign citizens. As Brazil currently chairs the UN Security Council, and Colombia is a member of the council as well, this request could mark an important moment for Latin American diplomacy.

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This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Rebecca Walker