Peru’s diplomatic relationship with Mexico has come to a dramatic halt, following Mexico’s decision to grant asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, a central figure accused in the failed 2022 coup attempt by ousted President Pedro Castillo. The abrupt announcement, delivered by Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela on November 3, 2025, marks the latest and perhaps most severe escalation in a bilateral feud that has simmered since Castillo’s removal nearly three years ago.
“Today we learned with surprise and deep regret that Betssy Chávez, the alleged co-author of the coup attempt by former President Pedro Castillo, is being granted asylum at the Mexican Embassy residence in Peru,” de Zela told reporters, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. He described the move as an “unfriendly act,” adding, “considering the repeated instances in which the current and former presidents of that country have interfered in Peru’s internal affairs, the Peruvian government has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico today.”
Chávez, who briefly served as prime minister under Castillo after a stint as Minister of Culture, fled to the Mexican embassy in Lima just hours before the announcement. Facing ongoing criminal proceedings for her alleged role in Castillo’s attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree—a move that swiftly ended in Castillo’s impeachment and arrest—Chávez’s request for asylum has thrust the two countries’ already fraught relationship into crisis.
Peru’s government, for its part, has left no doubt about its stance. The decision to cut diplomatic ties was immediate and, in the words of de Zela, “final.” However, consular relations will remain in place to safeguard the interests of nationals in both countries, a nod to the practical realities that often persist even during the harshest diplomatic disputes.
Chávez’s legal troubles are far from over. Prosecutors have sought a 25-year sentence for her alleged role as a co-conspirator in Castillo’s plan to dissolve Congress, while Castillo himself faces a potential 34-year prison term. Both deny the charges. Chávez had been imprisoned from June 2023 until her release on bail in September 2025, with her trial ongoing. According to Reuters, her lawyer, Raul Noblecilla, had not heard from her in the days leading up to her dramatic flight to the embassy and was unaware of any asylum request.
The roots of this diplomatic rupture reach back to December 2022, when Castillo—Peru’s first president from a poor, rural background—attempted to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government. The gambit ended almost immediately in impeachment and arrest, as the military and most of the government refused to back him. Chávez was charged alongside Castillo, and both were swiftly ensnared in a protracted legal battle. Castillo has remained in preventive custody ever since, while Chávez’s legal status has fluctuated, culminating in her recent bid for asylum.
The asylum issue is not an isolated incident but rather the latest in a series of flashpoints. After Castillo’s removal, Mexico, under then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, granted asylum to Castillo’s wife and children. This prompted Peru to expel Mexico’s ambassador and temporarily recall its own envoy from Mexico City, citing repeated interference in its internal affairs. The rhetoric from the Peruvian side has only sharpened with time. “The truth is that they have tried to turn the authors of the attempted coup d’état into victims, when in reality, what Peruvians lived, and want to continue living, is democracy,” de Zela declared, as reported by BNO News.
Mexico’s response has been notably muted. As of the announcement, the Mexican foreign ministry had not issued a public statement. The silence is striking, especially given the international attention and the precedent set in the region. Just last year, a similar diplomatic standoff erupted between Mexico and Ecuador, after Mexico offered asylum to former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas. That episode culminated in Ecuadorian police storming the Mexican embassy in Quito—a move widely condemned as a breach of diplomatic norms.
Peruvian authorities have been careful to stress that, despite their anger, they will respect international conventions governing diplomatic asylum. “There is no possibility of intervening in the Mexican embassy,” de Zela noted, referencing the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum. “Such an action is not contemplated under international law.”
The political ramifications within Peru have been equally intense. The failed coup attempt by Castillo in December 2022 not only led to his downfall but also unleashed months of unrest and protests, reflecting deep divisions in Peruvian society. Castillo, a former rural teacher and union activist, came to power as a political outsider promising sweeping reforms, only to see his presidency unravel amid allegations of overreach and constitutional violations. His successor, Dina Boluarte, also found herself embroiled in controversy and was removed from office by Congress last month, following mass protests and public outrage over political scandals and crime. Congress leader José Jeri has since been sworn in as interim president, according to BBC.
Chávez’s own role remains a subject of fierce debate. She has consistently denied knowing about Castillo’s plan to dissolve Congress, and her driver’s testimony—claiming she asked to be taken to the Mexican embassy as the crisis unfolded—has only added to the intrigue. In September, she publicly rejected claims that she tried to flee to the embassy during the coup attempt, insisting she returned to her office instead. Still, prosecutors remain adamant about her culpability.
Diplomatic observers note that the clash between Peru and Mexico is emblematic of broader tensions in Latin America, where the lines between political asylum, judicial independence, and international interference are often blurred. While some in Peru see Mexico’s actions as a violation of sovereignty and a dangerous precedent, others argue that the asylum offer is a legitimate response to what they see as political persecution by an embattled Peruvian elite. The debate is far from settled, with both sides digging in for what could be a protracted standoff.
For now, the streets of Lima bear witness to the fallout. Police have stepped up their presence around the Mexican embassy, a visible reminder of the high stakes involved. Ordinary Peruvians, meanwhile, are left to grapple with the latest twist in a saga that shows no signs of resolution. The fate of Betssy Chávez—and the future of Peru’s relationship with Mexico—hangs in the balance, as both countries navigate the turbulent waters of regional politics and the enduring challenge of upholding democracy amid crisis.
With diplomatic channels severed and legal proceedings ongoing, the story of Betssy Chávez’s asylum bid is more than a tale of political intrigue—it’s a test of principle, sovereignty, and the fragile bonds that tie nations together in moments of upheaval.
