Peru recalls envoy in Chile over spying allegations
Peru says it has withdrawn its ambassador in Chile in protest over a case of alleged spying by the government in Santiago.
Peru’s Foreign Ministry made the announcement in a statement on Saturday, saying that its ambassador would not return until it received a response over the case.
The ministry said it had sent its “strongest rejection and deep concern over Chile’s espionage actions against national security” to Chile in a recent diplomatic note.
The recent move by Peru comes weeks after the country said that three of its navy members were under investigation for allegedly leaking military information to Chile.
Lima says its navy members were paid for spying by Chile between 2005 and 2012.
Earlier, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala said ties between the two countries were at risk over Chile’s failure to provide an explanation as requested in a diplomatic note Lima had sent on February 20. Peru also demanded assurances that there would be “no repeat of acts of espionage.”
“We hope there will be an official response from Chile because not giving a response is a response,” Humala said.
However, Chile’s Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz says Santiago “does not promote or accept acts of espionage in other states or its own territory.”
He said he would not comment on the decision to recall the ambassador, saying the matter “falls exclusively to Peru.”
Back in 2010, an officer in the Peruvian air force was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling information to Chile.
The recent developments come a year after a decision by an international court settled a maritime boundary dispute between Chile and Peru.
The two sides have had a long history of border disputes.
SZH/HSN/HMV
‘Aggressive, hostile’: Canadian lawmakers slam Israel after being barred from West Bank
Far-right Kast sweeps Chile’s presidential election
China issues policy paper on Latin America, Caribbean after 9 years
Assange files criminal complaint against Nobel Foundation over Machado’s prize
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Indian Prime Minister Modi addresses Ethiopia's parliament
VIDEO | Nur Shams: “How do you carry a lifetime in a bag?”
VIDEO | Iran-Russia united
VIDEO | Doctors in England begin five-day walkout over pay, working conditions
VIDEO | Tunisia marks Revolution Day
Maduro says US plan to turn Venezuela into its colony ‘will simply never happen’
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
