Carlos Denegri

Carlos Alberto Francisco Díaz Dañino, who served as Peru’s Minister of Defense from March 17, 2026, to April 2026, faces two primary controversies. First, he is currently under a preparatory investigation in the military justice system, initiated in October 2025, concerning the irregular procurement of 39 parachute systems valued at approximately 2.37 million soles for the Army. Investigators allege the equipment was delivered without mandatory automatic opening devices, compromising soldier safety, and point to deficient supervision during his tenure as chief of the Army Intendency. Second, he was involved in a high-level procurement scandal regarding the potential purchase of 24 F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. While President José María Balcázar publicly suspended the purchase, citing it should be left to the next administration, Díaz Dañino maintained that the contract was signed by military officials on April 20, 2026. This discrepancy led to his forced resignation and dismissal by the President. He also failed to initially disclose the ongoing parachute investigation in his official ministerial declarations.