Mexico and Peru restore diplomatic relations after asylum row
Mexico and Peru have restored diplomatic relations after a nine-month dispute over Mexico granting asylum to former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chávez. The move signals a thaw following a change of leadership in Peru and reopens formal co-operation between two countries that cited their historic friendship and commitment to international law.
Chávez sought asylum at Mexico’s embassy in Lima in November 2025 after being charged over the 2022 attempted coup by former president Pedro Castillo. Peru says she has now left for Mexico but may seek her extradition; Chávez and Castillo were each sentenced to more than 11 years in prison last November. Relations had been severed after the asylum request, while Mexico has continued to support Castillo, who was impeached and arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress.
- Mexico and Peru have resumed diplomatic relations.
- The dispute centred on asylum for Betssy Chávez.
- Peru may still seek Chávez’s extradition.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Mexico's decision to grant asylum reflects a commitment to international humanitarian law and the principle that individuals facing potential political persecution deserve protection, even when that creates diplomatic friction. Asylum exists precisely to shield people from governments that might misuse legal systems for political ends, and Mexico's position—supported by its assertion of commitment to international law—upholds this universal principle regardless of the bilateral consequences or the gravity of the original charges.
The case against
Peru's objection rests on the principle of national sovereignty and the rule of law: Chávez was tried and convicted through Peru's legal system for serious crimes related to a coup attempt, and Mexico's asylum grant effectively delegitimises that process whilst signalling ideological alignment with forces that attempted to overthrow democratic institutions. Respect for other nations' judiciaries and legal systems is fundamental to international relations, and granting asylum to someone convicted of such charges represents unwarranted interference in Peru's internal affairs.
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