Peru Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Mexico After Former PM Seeks Asylum

Peru has officially severed diplomatic relations with Mexico following reports that former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez sought asylum in the Mexican embassy in Lima. Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela announced the decision on Monday, describing Mexico’s actions as “unfriendly” and accusing both current and former Mexican presidents of repeatedly interfering in Peru’s internal affairs.

According to De Zela, Peruvian authorities learned that Chávez, who served under former President Pedro Castillo, fled to the embassy earlier in the day. Mexico’s foreign ministry has yet to issue a public response regarding the matter.

Chávez faces criminal charges linked to Castillo’s failed attempt to dissolve Congress in late 2022, a move that led to his ousting and subsequent imprisonment. Prosecutors allege that Chávez played a role in the attempted power grab and have requested a 25-year prison sentence. She was jailed in June 2023 but later released in September pending trial. Her lawyer, Raúl Noblecilla, stated he had not heard from her recently and could not confirm whether she officially sought asylum in Mexico.

Testimony from Chávez’s driver previously suggested that she had attempted to reach the Mexican embassy during Castillo’s coup attempt, though Chávez denied those claims. She has consistently maintained her innocence and denied knowledge of Castillo’s plan to dissolve Congress.

Peru’s diplomatic break with Mexico marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, reflecting a broader regional divide over the fallout from Castillo’s presidency. The move underscores Peru’s firm stance against what it views as foreign interference in its judicial and political processes, signaling a deepening rift in Latin American diplomacy.