In a historic decision, the government of Peru broke diplomatic relations with Mexico after it was confirmed that the Mexican embassy in Lima had granted political asylum to Betssy Chávez, former Chief of Staff of Pedro Castillo and one of the main accused in the attempted coup d'état of December 2022.
The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela during a conference at Torre Tagle, headquarters of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We received the news with surprise and with deep regret," the minister stated, describing the event as a "hostile act" that broke the ties between both countries. The decision, he explained, responds to the diplomatic cover-up of a fugitive from Peruvian justice and to the ideologized position of the Mexican government, which, according to De Zela, "attempted to construct a parallel reality regarding the events of 2022, spreading a tendentious and ideologized version."
The minister was categorical: "Mexico persists in its mistaken and unacceptable position, which has reached the point of forcing Peru to break relations with a country with which, until before these events, we maintained a fraternal relationship and multiple points of agreement." De Zela recalled that both former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his successor Claudia Sheinbaum have tried to portray those involved in Castillo's failed coup as "political victims," instead of as those responsible for an attack against Peruvian democracy.
Despite the diplomatic break, the foreign minister clarified that consular functions will remain active. "Our compatriots in Mexico will continue under the protection of our consuls, and Mexicans in Peru will remain under the protection of Mexican consular authorities," he specified. De Zela emphasized that the measure affects the political, economic, commercial, and tourism spheres, but not citizen assistance services. "If the Mexican government imposes any difficulty, it will be a unilateral decision. Peru's will is to protect our nationals," he stressed.
