LIMA, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Peru announced an air security agreement with the United States on Saturday in what the government described as a push to stop planes belonging to drug gangs from entering the South American country's airspace.
The deal revives a bilateral security cooperation pact with the United States from 20 years ago, according to a government statement, and will permit new intelligence and training support to flow to Peru's air force.
It covers upgrades to two dozen helicopters and radar equipment, with the statement also citing "intense collaboration" with the United States, but without disclosing the cost of the security assistance.
An earlier air security pact between the two countries was suspended two decades ago after Peru's air force shot down a plane it had misidentified, killing two U.S. citizens.
Reporting by Marco Aquino; Additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
LIMA, Jorge Chavez, Marco Aquino, Moira Warburton, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
U.S . Department of Defense, Peruvian Defense, Thomson
Locations:
Peru, United States, Washington