The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru (, MRE) is the government ministry in charge of foreign policy and international relations and cooperation of Peru. It works in coordination with the country's diplomatic network, accredited to different countries and international organizations. In the same way, it also works with the diplomatic body in the country accredited to the Peruvian State.
History On August 3, 1821, just six days after proclaiming Peru's independence, José de San Martín created three Secretariats of State (this date is commemorated annually as Diplomat's Day): The Secretariat of State and Foreign Affairs (), headed by Juan García del Río. The Secretariat of War and the Navy, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Bernardo de Monteagudo The Secretariat of Finance, headed by Dr. Hipólito Unanue.
Two years later, Peru's first Political Constitution, promulgated on November 12, 1823, consolidated the existence of these three secretariats, giving them the name "ministry" (ministerio).
On March 21, 1824, Simón Bolívar issued a decree in Trujillo reducing the three ministries to a single one, which would become the General Secretariat of Affairs of the Peruvian Republic (), under Colonel José Gabriel Pérez. However, shortly thereafter, the Governing Junta repealed the decree, reestablishing the three ministries.
On June 1, 1826, José de la Mar, following Bolívar's orders, decreed the creation of six Secretariats of State: Foreign Affairs; Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs; Interior; Treasury; War, and Navy. These six secretariats were to be distributed among four Ministries: Foreign Affairs and Interior; Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs; Treasury; and War and Navy. At the end of that same year, Bolívar drafted his Lifetime Constitution, which was sworn in on December 9 and changed the names of the ministries to Secretariat Offices ().
After Bolívar left Peru, La Mar issued a new Constitution. Under this Constitution, only three Ministries of State were established: one of Government and Foreign Affairs; another of War and Navy; and another of Finance. This Constitution was replaced in 1834, and during the government of General Luis José de Orbegoso, the administration of the three Ministries was to be consolidated into a General Secretariat. Later, during the brief administration of General Felipe Salaverry, the three Ministries created by San Martín in 1821 were reinstated.
Once the Peru–Bolivian Confederation was established, Andrés de Santa Cruz ordered these three Ministries to be in charge of the Confederation's affairs. Following the fall of the Confederation, the Constitution of 1839 was enacted, and a fourth Ministry was added: the Ministry of Public Instruction, Charity, and Ecclesiastical Affairs. In the following years, a General Ministry was once again created, but it was abolished in August 1844, reestablishing only two Ministries: the Ministry of Government and Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance.
In April 1845, during the government of Ramón Castilla, four ministries were reestablished: Foreign Affairs; Government; War and Navy; and Finance. By Decree No. 90 of July 31, 1846, Castilla created the Peruvian Diplomatic Service (). In June 1855, the Ministry was organized as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Education. The following year, in November 1856, the Constitution established that there would normally be five Ministries: Foreign Affairs; Government, Worship, and Public Works; Justice, Education, and Charity; War and Navy; and Finance and Commerce.
In March 1857, the Foreign Ministry was internally organized into two sections: the Overseas and Continental sections. In April 1878, during Mariano Ignacio Prado's second administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reorganised. Under this arrangement, the Ministry was divided into two sections: the Diplomatic Section, and the Consulates, Chancery, and Accounting Sections, replacing the Overseas and Continental sections, respectively.
Following the aforementioned modifications, a series of measures were enacted from 1903 to 2006 regarding the internal organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
By Supreme Decree 025-2007-Re of April 20, 2007, the Peruvian Antarctic Institute became part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Organisation According to the Organization and Functions Regulation, the Ministry has the following directorates: Directorate-General of Foreign Policy Studies and Strategies Directorate-General of America Directorate-General of Sovereignty, Limits and Antarctic Affairs Directorate-General of Europe Directorate-General of Asia and Oceania Directorate-General of Africa, Middle East and Gulf countries Directorate-General for Multilateral and Global Affairs Directorate-General for Economic Affairs Directorate-General of Economic Promotion Directorate-General of Peruvian Communities Abroad and Consular Affairs Directorate-General for Cultural Affairs Directorate-General of Treaties Directorate-General of Protocol and Ceremonial of the State
Entities administered by the ministry include: Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) Peruvian Antarctic Institute (IAP)
List of ministers NamePeriodTerm startTerm endSecretaries of State for Government and Foreign Affairs (1821–1823) Juan García del Río Bernardo de Monteagudo Francisco Valdivieso Ministers of State and Foreign Relations (1823–1826) Hipólito Unanue José Faustino Sánchez Carrión Hipólito Unanue Hipólito Unanue Ministers of Relations and the Interior (1826–1827) Ministers of Government and Foreign Relations (1827–1834) Justo Figuerola Ministers of Foreign Relations (1834–1844) José Domingo Espinar Bonifacio Lazarte Manuel Bartolomé Ferreyros Mariano de Sierra Andrés María Torrico Mariano Campero Pío de Tristán Casimiro Olañeta Manuel de la Cruz Méndez Ramón Castilla Manuel Bartolomé Ferreyros Manuel Ros Felipe Pardo y Aliaga Ministers of Foreign Relations, Justice and Eclessiastical Affairs (1844–1845) José Fabio Melgar José Dávila Condemarín Ministers of Foreign Relations (1845–1852) Felipe Pardo y Aliaga Juan Crisóstomo Torrico Manuel Bartolomé Ferreyros Ministers of Government and Foreign Relations (1852–1855) Juan Crisóstomo Torrico Joaquín José de Osma Ministers of Foreign Relations and Public Instruction (1855–1856) José María Seguín Ministers of Foreign Affairs Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán José Fabio Melgar Valdivieso Antonio Arenas José Fabio Melgar Valdivieso José Fabio Melgar Valdivieso Juan Antonio Ribeyro Estrada Juan Antonio Ribeyro Estrada Pedro José Calderón José Manuel de la Puente Simeón Gregorio Paredes Luis Mesones Mariano Dorado José Jorge Loayza Juan Antonio Ribeyro Estrada José de la Riva-Agüero y Looz-Corswarem José de la Riva-Agüero y Looz-Corswarem Manuel Yrigoyen Arias Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán Manuel Yrigoyen Arias Juan E. Guzmán Manuel Yrigoyen Arias Rafael Velarde Echevarría Alfonso Quiroga Pedro José Calderón Aurelio García y García Manuel María Gálvez Egúsquiza Aurelio García y García Rafael Villanueva Cortez Mariano Valcárcel José Antonio de Lavalle Elías Malpartida José Antonio de Lavalle Eugenio Larrabure y Unanue Antonio Arenas Cesáreo Chacaltana Reyes Carlos Maria Elías y de la Quintana Alberto Elmore Fernández de Córdoba Manuel Yrigoyen Arias Alberto Elmore Fernández de Córdoba Eugenio Larrabure y Unanue Cesáreo Chacaltana Reyes José Mariano Jiménez Wald Manuel Yrigoyen Arias Manuel Candamo Enrique de la Riva-Agüero y Riglos José Jorge Loayza Manuel María Gálvez Egúsquiza Enrique de la Riva-Agüero y Riglos Cesáreo Chacaltana Reyes Eugenio Larrabure y Unanue José Pardo y Barreda Alberto Elmore Fernández de Córdoba Francisco Tudela y Varela Enrique de la Riva-Agüero y Riglos Francisco Tudela y Varela Alberto Salomón Osorio Alberto Salomón Osorio Alberto Salomón Osorio Alberto Salomón Osorio Pedro José Rada y Gamio Pedro M. Oliveira Ernesto Montagne Markholz Rafael Larco Herrera José Gálvez Barrenechea Luis Miró Quesada Alberto Rey de Castro y Romaña Alfredo Solf y Muro Alfredo Solf y Muro Manuel Cisneros Sánchez Manuel Cisneros Sánchez Manuel Cisneros Sánchez Ismael Bielich-Flores Ismael Bielich-Flores Ricardo Rivera Schreiber Ricardo Rivera Schreiber Ricardo Rivera Schreiber Ricardo Rivera Schreiber Ricardo Rivera Schreiber Ricardo Rivera Schreiber David Aguilar Cornejo David Aguilar Cornejo David Aguilar Cornejo David Aguilar Cornejo Manuel Cisneros Sánchez Víctor Andrés Belaúnde Raúl Porras Barrenechea Fernando Schwalb Edgardo Seoane Raúl Ferrero Rebagliati Luis Edgardo Mercado Jarrín Miguel Ángel de la Flor Carlos García-Bedoya Zapata Javier Arias Stella Fernando Schwalb Sandro Mariátegui Chiappe Luis Pércovich Roca Allan Wagner Tizón Luis Gonzales Posada Guillermo Larco Cox Carlos Torres y Torres Lara Augusto Blacker Miller Óscar de la Puente Raygada Efraín Goldenberg Francisco Tudela Fernando de Trazegnies Javier Pérez de Cuéllar Diego García-Sayán Allan Wagner Tizón Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros Fernando Olivera Vega Óscar Maúrtua José Antonio García Belaúnde Rafael Roncagliolo Eda Rivas Gonzalo Gutiérrez Reinel Ana María Sánchez Vargas de Ríos Cayetana Aljovín Elizabeth Astete Allan Wagner Tizón Héctor Béjar Óscar Maúrtua César Landa César Landa Ana Gervasi Javier González Olaechea Elmer Schialer Hugo de Zela April 22, 2026Carlos Pareja Ríos Carlos Espá Incumbent
See also Palacio de Torre Tagle, headquarters Lima Stock Exchange Building, also owned by the ministry Ambassadors of Peru List of diplomatic missions of Peru
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