LIMA, Peru — Lawmakers in Peru have formally declared Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata, escalating a diplomatic rift between the two nations after her administration granted asylum to Peru’s former prime minister.
The dispute stems from Mexico’s decision to offer protection to former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who has been sheltering in a Mexican diplomatic residence in Lima. Chávez served under ousted leftist leader Pedro Castillo, who was arrested in 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress and block a vote on his impeachment.
Castillo remains in jail awaiting trial, but his wife, Lilia Paredes, previously secured asylum in Mexico after fleeing Peru.
Peru’s new president, José Jerí, responded to Mexico’s move by severing diplomatic relations earlier this week, calling the asylum decision an unacceptable intrusion into Peru’s internal affairs. His government has yet to decide whether to grant Chávez safe passage out of the country.
In a post on X, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry defended its actions, saying its asylum policy is “peaceful and humanitarian” and rejecting accusations of interference. “Our actions should not be interpreted as unfriendly by any nation,” the ministry said.
The episode mirrors earlier tensions between Lima and Mexico. Peru’s Congress had previously declared Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, persona non grata for his vocal backing of Castillo. Lawmakers have also applied the same designation to Colombian President Gustavo Petro over similar statements of support.
— With assistance from Gonzalo Soto
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