Army General David Guillermo Ojeda Parra, the highly decorated and experienced head of the Peruvian Armed Forces’ Joint Command, has dedicated 38 years to distinguished service. His career, which includes extensive field experience and leadership roles from the Andes to the General Command of the Army, provides a unique perspective on the security challenges facing the region.
Diálogo had the opportunity to speak with Gen. Ojeda during the South American Defense Conference (SOUTHDEC) 2025 in Argentina, where he discussed his strategic vision for the Peruvian Armed Forces, the country’s successes in combating transnational threats, and the critical role of international cooperation.
Diálogo: What are your impressions of this year’s South American Defense Conference and the topics that were discussed?
Army General David Guillermo Ojeda Parra, head of the Peruvian Armed Forces’ Joint Command: It was a reunion with friends from last year’s conference in Chile. We have been working to achieve the goals we set, strengthening some and making progress on others, and I believe we are on the right track. We have seen that common threats — transnational threats that mutate, integrate, and undermine the rule of law — are growing stronger. These threats attack our societies as a whole. If we, as armed forces and civilized societies, do not unite, we could face serious problems. Fortunately, we are united, and we have clearly defined objectives. I believe we will reach agreements that will allow us to effectively combat these threats.
Diálogo: What are your main goals as head of the Peruvian Armed Forces’ Joint Command, and how do you assess the current threat landscape posed by transnational criminal organizations?
Gen. Ojeda: My main objectives are three-fold. first, to strengthen our capabilities to effectively face any external or internal threat. The external threats come from transnational organized crime that transcend borders, and internal threats are a result of the instability caused by these same criminal organizations. Second, we aim to strengthen internal security. And third, we want to contribute to national development. These are the three main objectives we want to achieve.
Diálogo: The Peruvian Armed Forces are at the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking. What is your overall strategy for restoring stability to the most affected regions, and what is the assessment of operations so far this year in this fight?
Gen. Ojeda: The outcome is positive. We have had very good results in operations against drug trafficking in rural areas, showing clear improvement compared to last year. We are combating drug trafficking with great resolve.
So far this year, we have had an impact of more than $100 million on illicit drug trafficking, and that number is increasing. We have intercepted several clandestine airstrips, and we are focused on interdiction, eradication, and territorial control. We also control the trafficking of controlled chemical precursors, working closely with the National Police. Our work is concentrated in the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers Valley (VRAEM), but our Armed Forces also operate in other regions. Our Navy, through the Port Authority, controls navigable rivers and our territorial sea.
Diálogo: In 2025, Peru has dealt heavy blows to illegal mining in several regions where this activity is most prevalent, such as Madre de Dios, Pataz, and the area adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve. What have been the key factors in the fight against an illegal activity that has gained ground at the regional level, and how are you working with your regional counterparts to combat this scourge that threatens security and the environment?
Gen. Ojeda: Illegal mining is a scourge plaguing the entire region. The entire Andes is a mining area, and Peru is a mining country par excellence. In some regions, illegal mining serves as a support economy for drug trafficking and other related crimes. It’s easier for criminal organizations to launder money through illegal mining than through drug trafficking, which is more detectable. It’s a lot harder to traffic supplies for drugs than for illegal mining.
Illegal mining causes immense damage. Alluvial mining in rivers destroys forests and pollutes rivers with mercury and other chemical inputs, while other forms of mining also cause significant environmental damage. This leads to other crimes, such as theft, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and even a form of subcontracted slavery, human trafficking and other related crimes like murder. To combat this, we need multidisciplinary cooperation from the Armed Forces, the National Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Police’s Environmental Directorate, and the Criminal Investigation Directorate. We also need the cooperation from the National Superintendency for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives for Civil Use; Immigration; the Ministry of Economy and Finance; the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration, as well as the Ombudsman’s Office and the National Superintendency of Urban Transportation, because they are all involved.
Diálogo: Is it more complex to combat mining than drug trafficking?
Gen. Ojeda: I believe so. With mining, it is much more difficult to track the supply chain because many of the inputs can be legally acquired. Mining doesn’t just require mercury; it requires excavators, mechanical shovels, helmets, and flashlights. This is basic personal equipment that can be legally acquired, but its use may be illegal.
Our actions are yielding very good results. Specifically, in the Pataz sector, we have had an impact of approximately 300 million soles [more than $86 million], destroying tunnels, excavators, dredgers, and other equipment used in illegal mining. The synergy of institutions is producing very good results that can be replicated in other areas.
Diálogo: The region faces a growing threat of cyberattacks targeting government and military institutions. How do you assess this threat, and what measures are the Peruvian Armed Forces taking to protect critical national infrastructure?
Gen. Ojeda: We have the Operational Cyberdefense Command that is in constant contact with other institutions. We participate in seminars and conferences and conduct ongoing exercises to train our personnel and provide training to other State entities. It’s a national necessity to know what systems we have and what mechanisms we can use to defend ourselves.
Diálogo: The West Virginia National Guard and the Peruvian Armed Forces have been partners for 28 years under the State Partnership Program. What have been some of the most significant activities of this partnership this year, and what other plans exist for bilateral cooperation?
Gen. Ojeda: The Virginia National Guard provides us a great opportunity to improve our capabilities in disaster risk management. We have had several exercises. We participated in Resolute Sentinel last year [2024], which was an excellent exercise that allowed us to demonstrate our capabilities in responding to air and operational emergencies. We will continue with these types of exercises and will train our personnel in all areas of risk management, from floods to tsunamis and seismic activity that can occur in this Pacific Ring of Fire.
Diálogo: The long-standing partnership between the Peruvian Armed Forces and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is based on trust and friendship. What is the strategic value of this alliance in building a unified front against common threats?
Gen. Ojeda: SOUTHCOM is a great ally for us. This partnership allows us to be interoperable and better face the threats that loom over our countries, our democracies, our way of life, our population, and the environment.
South America is the world’s ecological reserve, and we must defend it. We must protect our biodiversity. South America should not be viewed as a source of natural resources, but as a natural treasure to be preserved. We also have immense human wealth and talent, and we have the strong desire to live in peace and harmony. And to live in peace and harmony, we must be in a position to defend our society and environment from the hybrid and even transnational threats that come in the form of organized crime. We believe that the world is a world for everyone, and we all have the right to live in peace. SOUTHCOM gives us the opportunity to be interoperable and to improve our military capabilities to defend the society we are indebted to.
Diálogo: What legacy do you hope to leave as Chief of the Peruvian Armed Forces’ Joint Command?
Gen. Ojeda: The vocation to serve does not end with military service. I believe that the vocation to serve is a quality that is born in one, remains over time, and ends with one.
