General Walter Astudillo, current Minister of Defense of Mrs. Dina Boluarte, appeared yesterday at a press conference from the Palace to respond, angrily, to the criticism that this newspaper raises of a multimillion-dollar acquisition that his administration plans to execute.
As has been reported, without further ado and while other armies buy drones to observe foreign leaks from the air, the portfolio headed by Astudillo is fighting for the Peruvian State to buy 24 fighter planes from a French company for a value of 3.5 billion dollars , or 3,168 million euros.
Press conference by Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén and his ministers, and Perú21’s questions to the Minister of Defense about the purchase of war planes. (Video: Juan Carlos Chamorro)
To justify such a transaction, Astudillo yesterday cited our Political Constitution. Their goal was to remind us that part of their duty is to guard our borders and defend our sovereignty.
It is good to know that General Astudillo has read the Constitution, however, it is our duty to inform him that neither our borders nor our sovereignty are currently threatened by foreign troops, except by drug traffickers to whom it would not be useful to respond with a very expensive fleet of warships.
Likewise, and from a cloud, General Astudillo also referred to freedom of the press as a concession that the Government he integrates grants to the citizens of this country. From this small platform, we have no way to thank him. “Freedom of expression has reached uncontrollable situations,” he said from his trench.
“All good Peruvians should be happy that true importance is finally being given to this type of investment,” Astudillo told Peru21.
The minister’s criticism also reached analysts and experts, who agree that the Government has more serious problems to address than arming itself for a war that is only in papers on the retired general’s desk. “The problem is when pseudoanalysts or figures who have held important public positions give biased information. That should not be allowed,” said Astudillo.
But in order for his delirious statement to finish going around the world via international cables, he urged Congress and the Public Ministry to initiate investigations against the people who question the purchase “to determine if they are defending the interests of other countries.” If so, they would be “involving treason,” he said without blushing.
BY 2026
If this absurdity comes to fruition, the purchase will be financed through a loan from the Banco de la Nación to the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) for an amount greater than 13,000 million soles at today’s exchange rate.
Astudillo said he hopes the fighter planes will be delivered before Dina Boluarte’s government ends in 2026.
In addition to the purchase of these aircraft, Perú21 revealed that two Boeing 737 model transport aircraft will be acquired. One of them has a cost of around 295 million soles and would replace the presidential plane that Boluarte uses for his trips abroad.
DID YOU KNOW THAT
-Minister Walter Astudillo He also confirmed that two Spartan aircraft will be purchased, which are used to combat natural disasters such as forest fires.
-Also announced the acquisition of rescue helicopters for the different regions of the country.
