US State Department congratulates Peru's president-elect Keiko Fujimori

The US State Department congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori, who narrowly won Peru's presidential election. Fujimori is preparing to become the country's first female president.

Scraper SystemJuly 01, 2026, 09:43 AM

US State Department congratulates Peru's president-elect Keiko Fujimori

The US State Department congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori, who narrowly won Peru's presidential election.

In a written statement by the department, "The United States congratulates Keiko Fujimori on her election as President of Peru for her significant electoral victory," it said. The statement noted that the Trump administration looks forward to working with the Fujimori government to strengthen security cooperation and boost investment and trade in the region.

Fujimori's victory

Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) announced Monday that Fujimori won with 50.1% of the vote, defeating her leftist rival Roberto Sánchez. In the election where approximately 18 million votes were cast, Fujimori prevailed by fewer than 50,000 votes.

Fujimori's victory comes after an election cycle marked by deep political divisions in a country that has seen nine presidents in a decade. She is also the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled Peru in the 1990s.

Keiko Fujimori was elected Peru's first female president in her fourth attempt. Her campaign featured a 'tough-on-crime' approach and a promise to protect free-market economy. Her rival Sánchez focused on rural economic grievances.

US regional interests

For Washington, Fujimori's victory aligns with efforts to strengthen ties with market-friendly allies against China's growing economic influence in Latin America. Beijing recently completed a $1.3 billion mega project in Peru, known as the Chancay deep-water port on the Pacific coast. This port is seen as China's logistics base in the region.

Fujimori's tough stance on organized crime also aligns with US efforts to expand regional security and anti-human trafficking cooperation.

Official announcement awaited

Although the election results were announced by ONPE, the country's ultimate authority on electoral matters, the National Election Jury (JNE), has not yet made its official proclamation. According to a Reuters report, JNE's official announcement is expected in the coming days.

Fujimori's presidency marks the return of the political movement known as Fujimorismo to the country's highest office. This movement has a complex history with the US. Washington once supported her father Alberto Fujimori for his fight against communist guerrillas and economic reforms, but later condemned him for weakening democratic institutions and allegations of human rights violations. Keiko Fujimori, for her part, has tried to transform Fujimorismo into a modern, conservative, law-and-order oriented political movement over the past two decades.

US State Department congratulates Peru's president-elect Keiko Fujimori

The US State Department congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori, who narrowly won Peru's presidential election. Fujimori is preparing to become the country's first female president.