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Peru severs diplomatic ties with Mexico over asylum for ex-PM Betssy Chávez
Peru announced on Tuesday it was cutting diplomatic relations with Mexico after the latter granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who faces charges tied to a 2022 coup attempt. Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela condemned the move as an "unfriendly act" and expressed "surprise and deep regret" over Mexico's decision to shelter Chávez at its embassy in Lima.
Mexico rejects Peru's response as 'excessive'
Mexico's foreign affairs ministry swiftly dismissed Peru's decision, calling it "excessive and disproportionate." The diplomatic rift deepens a long-standing tension between the two nations, rooted in Mexico's repeated interventions in Peru's internal affairs, according to Lima.
"They have tried to portray the authors of the coup attempt as victims, when in reality, Peruvians live and want to continue living in democracy, as recognized by all countries in the world, with the sole and lonely exception of Mexico," Zela stated.
Chávez's legal troubles and political backdrop
Chávez, imprisoned in June 2023 for her alleged role in then-President Pedro Castillo's attempt to dissolve Congress, was released on bail in September. She has denied all charges. Prosecutors are now seeking a 25-year prison sentence for her involvement in the failed power grab.
Castillo, Peru's first president from a rural and working-class background, was arrested in December 2022 after his attempt to dissolve Congress and establish an emergency government. He was impeached hours later and remains in preventive custody, facing a potential 34-year sentence for rebellion. Castillo previously claimed the military refused his orders, preventing further escalation.
History of strained relations
The latest rupture follows a pattern of disputes. In 2022, Peru expelled Mexico's ambassador after Mexico granted asylum to Castillo's wife and children post-arrest. A year later, Lima recalled its ambassador to Mexico after then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador publicly supported Castillo, calling his ousting "illegal."
Castillo's rise and fall
A former schoolteacher, farmer, and union activist, Castillo entered office in 2021 as a political outsider, pledging to overhaul Peru's struggling economy and uplift the poor. His presidency collapsed after his unconstitutional power grab was rejected by government officials and the military.
Recent political turmoil in Peru
Castillo's successor, Dina Boluarte, was ousted last month by Peru's Congress amid mass protests over political scandals and rising crime. Congress leader José Jeri was subsequently sworn in as interim president.
