Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Friday that Mexico and Peru restored diplomatic relations after Peru granted safe conduct to former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez. Chavez had taken asylum at the Mexican diplomatic residence in Lima since November 2025.
Speaking during a morning press conference, Sheinbaum said a Mexican Air Force plane traveled to Peru to transport Chavez and was landing in Mexico within minutes. She explained that the departure followed weeks of dialogue between her administration and the new Peruvian executive led by President Keiko Fujimori.
Sheinbaum stated that Mexico requested the safe conduct and described the decision as a gesture of good will from Fujimori's government toward Mexico.
Stance on Pedro Castillo
Despite restoring diplomatic ties, Sheinbaum made clear that Mexico will not change its position regarding former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo. Castillo is serving a prison sentence of more than 11 years after attempting to dissolve Congress at the end of 2022, a conviction the Mexican government considers illegal.
Sheinbaum stated that Mexico will continue defending Castillo for its previously stated reasons. She noted that Peru's new government is aware of Mexico's stance, but called the safe conduct agreement a positive step.
Sheinbaum also expressed gratitude to Brazil, which assumed diplomatic representation for Mexico in Peru and provided protection to Chavez during her period of asylum.
Legal status and asylum rules
Peruvian courts sentenced Chavez to 11 years and five months in prison as a co-author of conspiracy for rebellion. The Mexican government granted her political asylum after determining she faced persecution.
Peru issued the safe conduct in compliance with the Caracas Convention while maintaining that it does not recognize Chavez as politically persecuted. Peru's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that political persecution does not exist in the country and announced plans to promote a review of international asylum treaties before the Organization of American States.
Diplomatic tensions since 2022
The foreign ministries of both countries announced the re-establishment of ties in a joint statement highlighting historic bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation between Mexico and Peru. The document did not detail the long-running diplomatic dispute between the two nations.
Tensions originally began in December 2022 when former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned Castillo's arrest and questioned the legitimacy of his successor, Dina Boluarte. Peru responded by expelling the Mexican ambassador and recalling its own representative, leaving missions under charges d'affaires.
The relationship deteriorated further when Mexico granted asylum to Castillo's wife and children, culminating in a total break of diplomatic relations in November 2025.
