Santiago de Chile, February 23 (RHC-NNN) -- Chile's Foreign Ministry says they are in consultation with the Chilean ambassador in Peru in order to help prepare the official response to Peru's diplomatic letter concerning alleged spying by Chile.

Bilateral relations between Peru and Chile were shaken last week as news broke that three Peruvian navy officers were under investigation for having allegedly spied for Chile between 2005 and 2012. Peru's Ministry of Defense confirmed that the officials were arrested and are being investigated by a military court.

Peru has stated its ambassador to Chile has been asked to return for consultations, but has not permanently recalled him. The scandal has caused turmoil for Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and has had reverberations throughout Peru's political class.

In the official diplomatic letter, the Peruvian government stated that it “rejects, in the strongest terms, the acts of espionage against its national security.” It also demanded that Chile provide guarantees that this not happen again.

Relations between Chile and Peru were steadily improving since an international court resolved a maritime dispute in 2014. However, Peruvian President Humala has publicly stated that this spying scandal could damage relations between the countries.

Chile's Foreign Ministry says the country seeks to maintain positive diplomatic relations with Peru.