Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Peru and Mexico resume diplomatic relations after Chávez asylum dispute
Peru and Mexico are two countries in the Americas.
They had a big argument and stopped having ambassadors with each other.
The argument was about Mexico giving a safe home to a person from Peru who was in trouble.
That person is Betssy Chávez, who used to work for Pedro Castillo, a former president of Peru.
Peru believed she helped Castillo try to close the Congress in 2022, which is against the rules.
Mexico said she should be protected, so it let her stay in its embassy in Lima.
Now the two countries have decided to be friends again and start talking to each other.
Peru let Chávez fly to Mexico, but it can still ask for her to be sent back later.
Peru's new leader, Keiko Fujimori, wanted to fix the friendship, which is why the countries are making up.
Peru and Mexico agreed on Friday to resume diplomatic relations after severing them at the end of last year.
The rift began when Mexico granted political asylum to Betssy Chávez, a former official of ousted president Pedro Castillo.
Peru's foreign ministry granted Chávez safe-conduct to travel to Mexico but reserved the right to request her eventual extradition.
Chávez faced conspiracy charges over her alleged role in Castillo's 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress.
Newly elected Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori announced in July her intention to restore ties with Mexico.
- Who
- Peru and Mexico, including Peruvian Foreign Minister Carlos Espa, President Keiko Fujimori, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, and ousted president Pedro Castillo.
- What
- The two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations after breaking them over Mexico's asylum for Betssy Chávez.
- When
- Announced on Friday, August 7; Chávez left Lima for Mexico on Thursday night.
- Where
- Lima, Peru, and Mexico.
- Why
- Mexico granted political asylum to Chávez and later safe-conduct to travel; Peru had severed ties in response, and Fujimori's new government sought to rebuild relations.
Mexico's view
Peru's view
Asylum for Betssy Chávez
Mexico's view
Mexico granted Chávez shelter in its embassy and safe-conduct to travel, treating her case as a political matter.
Peru's view
Peru says Chávez faces credible conspiracy charges and reserves the right to request her eventual extradition.
Support for Pedro Castillo
Mexico's view
Mexico also granted political asylum to Castillo's wife and children and supported the ousted leftist president.
Peru's view
Peru's Congress declared President Sheinbaum a 'persona non grata' and severed ties over Mexico's support for Castillo.
- Countries involved
- Peru and Mexico
- Status
- Diplomatic relations resumed, announced Friday
- Relations severed
- End of last year over Mexico's asylum for Betssy Chávez
- Key figure
- Betssy Chávez, former prime minister, granted safe-conduct to Mexico
- Chávez charges
- Conspiracy for alleged role in Castillo's 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress
- Extradition
- Peru reserves the right to request Chávez's eventual extradition
- Ambassadors
- Neither country has had ambassadors since early 2023
- Pedro Castillo
- Serving an 11-year prison sentence; wife and children granted asylum in Mexico