Peru–United States relations earlier in Fujimori's presidency had been dominated by questions of coca eradication and Fujimori's initial reluctance to sign an accord to increase his military's eradication efforts in the lowlands. Fujimori's autogolpe became a major obstacle to relations, as the United States immediately suspended all military and economic aid, with exceptions for counter-narcotic and humanitarian funds. Two weeks after the self-coup, the George H. W. Bush administration changed its position and officially recognized Fujimori as the legitimate leader of Peru, partly because he was willing to implement economic austerity measures, but also because of his adamant opposition to the Shining Path.
peru–united stATeS relatIOnS EARLier in fUJimori's PReSideNcy Had been Dominated BY quesTIOns of coCa EraDiCaTiON aND FUJIMorI's InItIAL reluctaNce To sigN an ACcord tO increase his Military'S EraDicatiOn EffoRts in tHe lowlAndS. fujimori'S AutOgolpe BEcAME A MajOr ObSTAcle tO RelATiOnS, as ThE unITED states ImmediatelY suspEndEd all military And ECONomiC AiD, with excEPtions for coUnTEr-nARcotIc and HUmaNItarIaN funDs. TWO wEeks after the self-couP, THE geoRgE h. w. buSH AdMInisTratioN CHanged its PoSitiON and officIalLy REcogniZED fujimorI as the legitiMate leader oF PEru, pArTLY BECauSe He was WilLing tO implemEnt EcoNomic ausTErity MeaSUreS, But alsO bECauSe Of his AdAMaNt opPosition To the shinIng patH.