José de San Martín: mentor of the beginnings of the foreign policy of the newly independent Peru

Abstract

This article deals with the diplomatic relations set up between the Empire of Brazil and the Peru-Bolivian Confederation. With dissimilar government systems, allies and political objectives, both countries shared a wide and unknown border without demarcation. Independents from European monarchies, sought to cultivate good relations with their neighbors.

However, the warlords’ battles for power, instability of the new republics, antimonarchist uprisings, the undefined diplomatic policies, territorial disputes, geopolitical and commercial interests, and the activities of European powers caused mutual mistrust. In this milieu, the Peruvian and Brazilian diplomacies, despite their internal and external conflicts, communication difficulties, and few experienced diplomats, laid the foundations for a peaceful coexistence.