Corío and the Geopolitical Chessboard of the South Pacific in Scenarios of Systemic Competition and Strategic Sovereignty

Abstract

This article analyzes the Corío project as a geopolitical asset and critical infrastructure capable of redefining Peru's position in the South Pacific and strengthening its integration into global value chains. In this context, the objective is to examine, from a qualitative strategic perspective, the scenarios related to its financing, construction, and eventual operation, assessing their implications for the state's strategic autonomy, economic competitiveness, and the country's comprehensive security. Furthermore, it is argued that Corío transcends its port dimension and serves as an instrument for Peru's geopolitical integration into an international landscape characterized by systemic competition among powers, the securitization of logistics chains, and growing geoeconomic volatility. From this perspective, the study examines three prospective scenarios: (i) U.S. financing, conceived as a potential logistical counterweight to China's projection from Chancay; (ii) Chinese financing that would integrate the infrastructure into the Maritime Silk Road; and (iii) a diversified multipolar framework aimed at preserving strategic autonomy through balanced governance and the participation of the national business community. Methodologically, the research adopts a hermeneutic-prospective approach, grounded in the critical review of verifiable documentary sources and the analytical construction of scenarios. Consequently, the findings indicate that Corío's future will depend on the formulation of a comprehensive national strategy capable of articulating strategic infrastructure, economic diplomacy, legal security, logistical resilience, and territorial cohesion, as well as establishing institutional safeguards from the project's pre-operational phase.