Keiko Fujimori Assumes Peru Presidency Amid Strategic Shift

President Keiko Fujimori assumed office on July 28, 2026, becoming Peru's first elected female head of state. Her victory in the June runoff against leftist congressman Roberto Sanchez marks the return of the Fujimorism movement to power. To stabilize the government, Fujimori appointed Elmer Cuba as economy minister and Carlos Espa as foreign minister, though she faces a fragmented bicameral Congress where her Popular Force party is the largest minority bloc.

Fujimori's domestic agenda prioritizes national security to combat organized crime through the construction of four mega-prisons, expanded video surveillance, and increased police presence. She also aims to modernize health and education via artificial intelligence and private investment.

Internationally, Fujimori is pivoting toward Washington. She intends to join the Shield of the Americas, a regional anti-crime coalition initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump. While she seeks closer alignment with the United States, she must balance this relationship with the Government of China, Peru's top trading partner and the financier of the $3.5 billion Chancay port under the Belt and Road Initiative.