Peru Severs Diplomatic Ties with Mexico Over Asylum Dispute
The government of Peru has officially ended diplomatic relations with Mexico following a decision by Mexican authorities to grant asylum to Betssy Chávez, the former Peruvian Prime Minister. Chávez is currently facing legal proceedings in Peru for her alleged involvement in the 2022 attempt to dissolve the national Congress, an event that led to significant political upheaval in the country.
Peru's foreign ministry announced the move after confirming that Chávez had been given refuge at the Mexican Embassy in Lima. According to Peruvian officials, this action was considered a violation of diplomatic protocol and an intrusion into Peru's internal affairs. The Peruvian government stated that the repeated interventions by Mexican political leaders in recent years have contributed to this breakdown in relations.
The diplomatic rift is the latest development in a series of tensions that began after former President Pedro Castillo's attempted dissolution of Congress in December 2022. Castillo, who served as president from 2021 to 2022, was removed from office by the legislative body and subsequently arrested. He was charged with rebellion and abuse of authority, and his attempted flight to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy was thwarted when authorities detained him en route. Betssy Chávez, who served as his prime minister at the time, was also charged in connection with these events and later released on bail pending trial.
Following Castillo's ouster, relations between Peru and Mexico became increasingly strained. Mexico previously provided asylum to members of Castillo's family, which led Peru to expel the Mexican ambassador and recall its own ambassador from Mexico City. The Peruvian government also accused Mexican leaders of interfering in domestic affairs by expressing public support for Castillo and his administration.
Chávez has maintained her innocence, denying any prior knowledge or involvement in the plan to dissolve Congress. Despite her claims, Peruvian prosecutors have sought a 25-year prison sentence for her role in the alleged coup attempt, while Castillo faces a potential 34-year sentence if convicted. The pair went to trial earlier this year, with Castillo remaining in preventive detention and Chávez released under judicial conditions.
The severing of diplomatic ties marks a significant escalation in the dispute between the two countries. Diplomatic relations, already fragile after previous incidents, have now reached a point of complete suspension. The Peruvian government emphasized that granting asylum to an individual facing criminal charges for actions against constitutional order poses a challenge to international norms and undermines efforts to uphold the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Mexico has maintained its position that granting asylum is a sovereign right, referencing international conventions that protect political refugees. Mexican officials have yet to publicly respond to the latest decision by Peru, but the move is expected to impact consular services and bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The diplomatic fallout comes at a time of broader political instability in Peru, as authorities continue to investigate the events surrounding the 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress and the subsequent transition of power. Both Castillo and Chávez remain central figures in the ongoing legal proceedings, which have drawn attention from international observers and human rights organizations concerned about due process and political freedoms in the region.
This development is likely to have lasting effects on the diplomatic landscape in Latin America, with potential implications for regional cooperation and the treatment of asylum seekers in politically sensitive cases.