Peru El Salvador Talks Open on the Bukele Prison Model

PERU · SECURITY

Peru has approached El Salvador about the security model that filled its prisons. The Peru El Salvador contacts were confirmed by prime minister Luis Galarreta.

Peru’s prime minister confirms contact

Peru’s prime minister, Luis Galarreta, said on Sunday that his government has been talking to El Salvador. He told the Peruvian newspaper Trome: “There are conversations with the Government of El Salvador.”

Galarreta did not give more details about what Peru asked for. He only said the goal is to “know and evaluate” how the Bukele security model works.

What is the Bukele security model?

The Bukele security model is named after Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador. It uses emergency powers, mass arrests, and a huge new prison called CECOT.

CECOT, short for Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, opened on January 31, 2023. Its stated capacity is 40,000 people, which would make it the largest prison in Latin America.

El Salvador has not published the actual number of inmates. Under Bukele, El Salvador suspended many legal rights.

Police can arrest without warrants, and trials are often delayed.

Human rights concerns

A March 11, 2026 jurist report found reasonable grounds for crimes against humanity in El Salvador’s security policy. That policy may involve such violations.

The report, “El Salvador at the Crossroads,” came from two legal groups. It says over 89,000 were detained, many without due process.

As of early 2025, the report documents 403 deaths in prisons, including four children, and 540 cases of enforced disappearance. Bukele himself has admitted that “at least 8,000” of those arrested were innocent.

Peru’s crime wave

Peru faces violent crime. Galarreta spoke a week after gunmen in Trujillo kidnapped a mining businessman, Jenss Lara, and killed his four companions.

Lara was freed after more than 36 hours. Reports say his family may have paid a ransom of US$3 million, but that is not confirmed.

That case is just one example of the rising insecurity that has pushed Fujimori’s government to look abroad for solutions. Crime is a top concern for many Peruvians.

State of emergency in five prisons

On September 5, the government declared a 60-day state of emergency in five high-security prisons. The measure aims to tighten security around them against organized crime run from inside.

This is narrower than the nationwide state of exception Bukele has used in El Salvador since 2022. It is the first concrete Bukele-shaped measure Fujimori’s government has taken.

The state of emergency allows the military to support police in guarding the prisons. It does not suspend constitutional rights across the country.

Fujimori’s interest in Bukele

President Fujimori has talked about building prisons like CECOT in Peru. She has proposed using the armed forces to guard them and faster sentencing for criminals.

Her government’s contact with El Salvador is a logical step in that direction. But it is not yet clear if Peru will copy the full Bukele model, which includes emergency rule.

Fujimori has not publicly praised Bukele on the record. Her actions, such as the prison emergency, show her interest in his approach.

What is not confirmed

Many details of the talks remain unknown. El Salvador’s government has not publicly responded to Peru’s approach.

There is no confirmed list of what Peru asked for, such as technical help or prison designs. No formal agreement or timeline has been announced.

The exact legal status of any state of emergency in Peru is confirmed for the five prisons. No national emergency has been declared.

Who is Keiko Fujimori?

Keiko Fujimori is the president of Peru. She took office on July 28, 2026.

She is the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, who led Peru in the 1990s. Her father is known for a tough hand against rebel groups.

Keiko Fujimori has run for president before. This is her first time winning the office.

Who is Luis Galarreta?

Luis Galarreta is Peru’s first vice president and prime minister. He has been in office since July 28, 2026, the same day as Fujimori.

He ran as Fujimori’s running mate on the Fuerza Popular ticket. He was president of Congress from 2017 to 2018.

His statement to Trome is the first official confirmation of the talks with El Salvador.

Why Peru has had so many presidents

Peru has seen frequent leadership changes. Keiko Fujimori is its sixth president since 2016.

That instability stems from corruption scandals and clashes between Congress and presidents.

Past presidents Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, and Pedro Castillo all left office early.

Peru’s constitution allows Congress to remove presidents with a vote of no confidence.

This has made governing hard and pushed voters toward tough-on-crime leaders like Fujimori.

What the CECOT prison is like

CECOT is a massive prison built to hold gang members. It sits in a rural area of El Salvador.

It has cells for 40,000 people, but human rights groups say conditions are harsh.

Inmates are held in large halls with little privacy. Reports describe overcrowding and abuse.

The prison is a symbol of Bukele’s crackdown on gangs. It has drawn both praise and criticism.

How El Salvador’s emergency rule works

El Salvador has been under a state of exception since March 2022. That allows arrests without warrants.

The government says it has jailed over 89,000 suspected gang members. Many are held without trial.

Bukele’s approval ratings are high, but critics say the measures violate basic rights.

Peru’s prison emergency is far narrower. It only covers five prisons and lasts 60 days.

What Fujimori has proposed for Peru

Fujimori has spoken of building prisons like CECOT in Peru. She wants the military to guard them.

She also backs faster sentencing and tougher laws against organized crime.

Her government has not yet announced a full plan. The talks with El Salvador are just a first step.

Any new prison or law would need approval from Congress. Fujimori’s party does not hold a majority.

What critics say about copying Bukele

Human rights groups warn that Bukele’s model has led to abuses. They cite deaths and disappearances.

Peruvian experts say the country’s crime problem is different. Gangs there are less organized than in El Salvador.

Some analysts argue that mass arrests could fill Peru’s prisons with innocent people.

Fujimori has not responded to these concerns. Her government says it is only studying the model.

What happens next?

The talks with El Salvador are just a first step. No formal agreement or timeline has been announced.

El Salvador’s government has not publicly responded. It is unclear if they will share details of their model.

Peru’s government may send officials to visit CECOT or meet with Salvadoran security experts. That is not confirmed.

Observers will watch for any changes in Peru’s laws or prison plans. Human rights groups will likely raise concerns if Peru adopts harsh measures.

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