Utah, Peruvian officials gather to mark 200 years of U.S.-Peruvian ties

SALT LAKE CITY — The United States and Peru have had diplomatic relations for 200 years, and Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson gathered with leaders of Utah's Peruvian community this week to mark the anniversary.

Simultaneously, Gov. Spencer Cox issued a declaration marking the bicentennial of Peruvian-U.S. ties, lauding the contributions of Peruvians in Utah. The Peruvian government operates a consulate in Salt Lake City to serve the expatriate population from the South American nation, which consular officials think ranges from 25,000 to 30,000 people.

The declaration "recognizes the valuable contribution of Utah's Peruvian community, highlighting its culture, entrepreneurial spirit and civic values, which contribute to the economic and social development of the state," the consulate said in a statement.

U.S.-Peruvian relations date to May 2, 1826, when the United States recognized Peru, recently independent from Spain. The ceremony in Utah marking the 200th anniversary of diplomatic ties was held Monday and Henderson spoke at the event, held in the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City.

In her five years in the post, she said, she's hosted at least eight delegations from the country. "I've met with business leaders, with consul generals, mayors, members of Congress, and I've watched this long-standing relationship grow and flourish between Utah and Peru," Henderson said.

Czibor Chicata-Sutmöller, the general consul of Peru's consulate in Utah, said the United States was one of the first country outside of Peru's region to recognize the country. The "two centuries of friendship" between the nations "started not by chance but by conviction," he said.

A contingent of Peruvian government and business officials traveled to Utah in late 2024 to bolster commercial ties. In late 2025, a group of government and business leaders from Utah traveled to Peru, also to promote trade and bolster ties.