Keiko Fujimori Sworn In as Peru President, Pledges Deeper Strategic U.S. Ties

Keiko Fujimori has been sworn in as the President of Peru following a narrow and contentious election victory. In one of her first acts, Fujimori’s administration announced plans to significantly intensify strategic ties with the United States while working to restore diplomatic relations with regional neighbors Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela.

The inauguration was marked by protests in Lima, reflecting the deep polarization following the defeat of left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez. Fujimori’s new conservative cabinet, led by Foreign Minister Carlo Espa, is moving quickly to pivot the country’s foreign policy toward Washington, positioning Peru as a key U.S. partner in South America.

In a separate legal development that has also roiled Peruvian politics, former President Ollanta Humala was released from Barbadillo prison after the constitutional court overturned his 15-year money laundering conviction. The release of Humala, a former rival to the Fujimori family, adds another layer of complexity to the country's volatile political landscape as the new administration begins its term.