#VRAEM

Peru: Military and Paramilitary Forces — The Shining Path Legacy, the Armed Forces, and Narco-Frontier Security

The Peruvian security apparatus reflects a structural transition from conventional inter-state defense to internal counter-insurgency, counter-narcotics, and resource protection. Facing the legacy of the Shining Path conflict that claimed nearly 69,000 lives between 1980 and 2000, Peru maintains active deployments in the high-risk VRAEM region while maintaining a defense budget of 1.0% to 1.5% of GDP. This article examines the organization of the Peruvian Armed Forces and National Police, defense budget allocation, narco-insurgent dynamics in coca frontiers, and the military's role in safeguarding critical mining infrastructure.