Mexico and Peru formally re-established diplomatic relations on 7 August, ending a nine-month rupture triggered by Mexico’s decision to grant asylum to former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chávez. The announcement, made in a joint communiqué by the two foreign ministries, came hours after Chávez left Lima aboard a Mexican Air Force plane, having been issued a safe-conduct by the government of President Keiko Fujimori. The statement cited “historic ties of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation” and reaffirmed respect for international law and the UN Charter.

Speaking at her morning press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the safe-conduct as “an act of goodwill” by the Fujimori administration and confirmed that diplomatic relations would be restored. She reiterated, however, that Mexico would continue to defend former president Pedro Castillo, who was ousted in December 2022 and later sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for rebellion. “We are going to keep defending President Castillo for the reasons we have set out,” Sheinbaum said, adding that the new Peruvian government was aware of Mexico’s position.

Peru’s foreign ministry stressed that the safe-conduct was granted in compliance with the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum and did not imply recognition of Chávez as a politically persecuted person. It maintained that “no political persecution exists” in Peru and that the country respects the rule of law and separation of powers. Foreign Minister Carlos Espá told local media that Chávez had left Peru around midnight in a confidential operation and was in good health. Lima reserved the right to request her extradition under applicable treaties should judicial authorities require it.

The rupture dated to November 2025, when the government of then-president José Jerí severed ties after Mexico granted asylum to Chávez, who had been convicted as a co-perpetrator of conspiracy to rebellion for her role in Castillo’s failed attempt to dissolve Congress. Tensions had been escalating since December 2022, when Mexico’s then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador condemned Castillo’s detention and Peru expelled the Mexican ambassador. Following the restoration, the two countries’ foreign ministers agreed to draw up a roadmap for reopening embassies, and President Fujimori indicated she would name an ambassador to Mexico “in the coming days.” The visa requirement for Peruvian nationals travelling to Mexico remains unchanged.