Opening Statement of Bernie Navarro, Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (November 19, 2025)

Summary

The opening statement of Bernie Navarro, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Peru, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on November 19, 2025. He thanks President Trump and Secretary Rubio, introduces his wife Claudia and family, and recounts his parents' flight from Cuba. He describes himself as the founder and owner of Benworth Capital with nearly 30 years of financial services experience and recalls leading a trade mission to Peru while chairing a South Florida trade association. He says that China's investments in Peru's infrastructure, energy and mining give Beijing economic leverage, and that as chair of Miami Dade College's trustees he helped remove a Confucius Institute. He pledges to support the Administration's goals, including the safety of U.S. citizens, economic prosperity and a response to criminal organizations and narcotics traffickers.

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                    Opening Statement of Bernie Navarro
                    Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Peru
                     Senate Foreign Relations Committee
                             November 19, 2025

Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen, my long-time friend Senator
Rick Scott. It is a profound honor to appear before you today as the
nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Peru. I am grateful
to President Trump for entrusting me with this nomination and to Secretary
Rubio for his support. Their confidence in my ability to serve the American
people is humbling, and I look forward to the opportunity to advance our
nation’s interests in Peru.

It is a blessing to be here today with my beautiful wife, Claudia, a proud
Peruvian-American, and our three children – Alexandra, Matthew, and Jake.
I am also joined by my brother, Gilbert; my sister, Norma; my 86-year-old
mother, Norma; and my 87-year-old father, Gilberto.

My parents were born in Cuba. They lost everything to communism and fled
their homeland in search of freedom. I will forever be grateful to them – for
their courage, their sacrifice, and their unwavering faith in the promise of
America. They put their own dreams aside so that my siblings and I could
achieve ours. From an early age, they taught us that anything resembling
communism is not only wrong, but a direct threat to the liberty and
opportunity this nation represents.

Today, I can proudly say that my parents’ dreams have come full circle.
Their journey – from losing everything in Cuba to seeing their son achieve
the American Dream – is a testament to what this country makes possible.
If confirmed, I will carry their story – and the story of countless families like
ours – as proof that the American Dream is not just alive, but thriving.

Over the past weeks, I have had the privilege of meeting many of you to
discuss the United States’ relationship with Peru. Under the Trump
Administration, we have a golden opportunity to put America and
Americans first as we advance our interests abroad. If confirmed, I pledge
to work closely with this Committee to support the Administration’s goals:
protecting the safety of U.S. citizens, promoting economic prosperity and
regional security, and deepening a bilateral relationship that has endured
for nearly two centuries. President Trump nominated me – the founder and
owner of Benworth Capital with nearly 30-years of financial services
experience and first-hand knowledge of Peru – to demonstrate the
Administration’s commitment to strengthening our bilateral relationship.

The U.S. - Peru bilateral relationship is grounded in mutual respect and
shared values. Peru’s dynamic economy, bolstered by its mineral wealth,
agricultural growth, and infrastructure projects, presents significant
opportunities for American industry. I have witnessed firsthand the
potential for expanding our economic ties. During the aftermath of the
Great Recession, when South Florida’s economy was struggling, I served as
Chairman of one of the region’s largest trade associations. Rather than
standing still, I insisted that we think differently and look beyond our
traditional markets. We organized a trade mission to Peru that produced
historic results for our members and forged business relationships that
continue today. If confirmed, I will bring that same resolve to my work in
Peru.

Peru’s economic opportunities are not without challenges. China has
exploited South America’s natural resources to advance its strategic
interests at the expense of our partners, and Peru is no exception. China’s
vast investments in Peru’s critical infrastructure, energy sector, and mining
industry give Beijing significant economic leverage, which impacts our
shared commercial and security interests. China has also increased its
cultural presence in Peru through the establishment of Confucius Institutes.
I have worked to root out this type of Chinese influence here in the United
States. During my time as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Miami Dade
College, the largest college in the US, I worked with my colleagues to
remove a Confucius Institute that had established itself there, helping the
college regain its academic independence. If confirmed, I will apply the
same dedication to efforts that safeguard Peru’s independence from malign
influences.

Beyond economic ties, our collaboration with Peru is vital in addressing
shared security challenges. Dangerous criminal organizations and narcotics
traffickers are terrorizing the people of Peru and threatening the stability of
the region. If confirmed, I will support efforts to establish a strong,
comprehensive response to these threats, improving the safety of Peruvians
and Americans alike.

Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, and Members of this committee. If
confirmed, I will dedicate myself, as I have always done, to strengthening
the bonds between our nations, advocating for American interests, and
advancing policies that promote security, prosperity, and stability. Thank
you for your time and consideration. I look forward to answering your
questions.


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