France–Peru relations (French: Relations France-Pérou; Spanish: Relaciones Francia y Perú) are foreign relations and diplomatic ties between the French Republic and the Republic of Peru. Both nations are members of the United Nations, the Latin Union and the World Trade Organization.
History
French sailors began visiting Peru on trade missions to Asia and would stop in Peru beginning in the 18th century. After Peru declared its independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821, French migrants began immigrating to Peru. By 1825, there existed a small French community of 300 people which resided in Peru.Los franceses en el Perú en el siglo XIX: retrato de una emigración discreta (in Spanish) In 1826, France and Peru established diplomatic relations.Relación entre Perú y Francia seguirá siendo muy fuerte en gobierno de Kuczynski (in Spanish) By 1876, 2,658 French nationals resided in Peru. Many of the French migrants in Peru were artisans, traders and laborers; many originating from Southern France, near the Pyrenees.
During World War II, Peru remained neutral for most of the war. Peru broke diplomatic relations with Vichy France in January 1943 after Operation Torch and the Peruvian government maintained diplomatic relations with the Free France government-in-exile of General Charles de Gaulle. After the war, both nations normalized diplomatic relations.Speech by President Manuel Prado Ugarteche (in Spanish)World War II Country Trends: Perú
In February 1960, Peruvian President Manuel Prado Ugarteche paid a three-day official visit to France.6.2.6 - La visita del Presidente Prado a París (in Spanish) In 1964, French President Charles de Gaulle paid an official visit to Peru.Visitas bilaterales (in Spanish) In 1973, Peru severed diplomatic relations with France in protest of French nuclear testing in the South Pacific Ocean. The rupture lasted until 1975.Official rupture is first in 10 years for France
Since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between both nations; there have been several high-level visits between leaders of both nations. Peruvian of French descent make up the third largest community of European origin in Peru. At the same time, there is a sizable number of Peruvian citizens residing in France.Perfil Migratorio del Perú 2012 (in Spanish)
High-level visits Presidential visits from France to PeruPresidente francés visita a Perú, primera parada en su gira por América Latina (in Spanish) President Charles de Gaulle (1964) President François Mitterrand (1987) President François Hollande (2016)
Presidential visits from Peru to France President Manuel Prado Ugarteche (1960) President Alberto Fujimori (1991) President Alejandro Toledo (2001, 2003) President Ollanta Humala (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2017)
Bilateral relations Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements, such as an Agreement in Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1972); Agreement in Financial Cooperation (1975); Agreement on Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters (2012); Agreement on Transportation Cooperation (2013); Extradition Treaty (2013); Agreement in Defense Cooperation (2013); Agreement for the Acquisition by the Peruvian Government for an Optical Satellite System for the Observation of Earth's Symmetrical Resolution (2014); Agreement on Educational Cooperation (2013) and an Agreement on a Working holiday visa (2018).Tratados del Perú (1972-1977) (in Spanish)Acuerdos Bilaterales entre Perú y Francia (in Spanish)
Transportation There are direct flights between Lima and Paris with Air France.
Trade In 2012, Peru (along with Colombia) signed a free trade agreement with the European Union (which includes France).Andean Community - European Union Trade In 2017, trade between France and Peru totaled €699 million Euros.Francia y Perú (in Spanish) France's main exports to Peru include: mechanical equipment, electrical, electronic and IT equipment and other industrial products. Peru's main exports to France include: agricultural products, logging, fishing and aquaculture products, and natural gas. Peru is France's 93 largest trading partner globally and 8th largest trading partner in Latin America.
Resident diplomatic missions France has an embassy in Lima.Embassy of France in Lima Peru has an embassy and a consulate general in Paris.Embassy of Peru in Paris
See also List of ambassadors of Peru to France List of ambassadors of France to Peru French Peruvians Jorge Chávez Lycée Franco-Péruvien Peruvians in France Alliance Française de Lima
References