US to Deploy Hospital Ship to Peru as El Nino Threat Intensifies
The US will send the USNS Comfort to Peru in February 2027 to help the country prepare for and respond to the El Nino climate phenomenon.
The United States has pledged to send a military hospital ship to Peru's northern Pacific coast in February 2027, as the country braces for a potentially severe El Nino event. The announcement was made by US Ambassador to Peru Bernie Navarro on Wednesday, following talks with Peruvian Foreign Minister Carlos Espá in Miami.
The deployment of the USNS Comfort, which previously visited Peru in 2018 and 2019, is part of a broader bilateral cooperation framework. Espá said the two nations have developed a road map that includes providing equipment, technical expertise, and aerial overflights to help prevent, mitigate, and respond to the climate phenomenon. The financial value of the assistance was not disclosed.
Navarro said the talks were aimed at understanding Peru's specific needs and ensuring a rapid response. He also noted that coordination during the recent earthquake in Colombia could have been improved, suggesting lessons learned would inform future disaster response efforts.
El Nino, a warming of Pacific Ocean waters near the equator, can disrupt global weather patterns. Meteorologists warn the upcoming event could rival or surpass the 1997 phenomenon, which triggered heat waves, heavy rains, floods, and forest fires across multiple regions.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, who took office on July 28, has identified addressing the potentially catastrophic climate event as a national priority. The US has also recently increased humanitarian aid for earthquake-affected areas in Colombia and Venezuela and is expanding joint military operations in the region.
Separately, Espá met with US business leaders interested in investing in Peruvian mining and infrastructure projects, though details of those discussions were not provided.