The Japan Times - Mexico and Peru reestablish ties after asylum spat

The governments of leftist Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her newly inaugurated, right-wing Peruvian counterpart Keiko Fujimori patched things up "considering the historic bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation that unite" their countries, a joint statement read.

Sheinbaum later said at her daily press conference that the former official at the center of the spat, ex-prime minister Betssy Chavez, was being flown on Friday aboard a Mexican military plane to Mexico.

Fujimori's government had granted safe passage to Chavez as a gesture of "goodwill," Sheinbaum said.

Mexico and Peru have had strained relations for years, following the ouster of left-wing Peruvian leader Pedro Castillo in December 2022.

He had been impeached and removed from office after attempting to dissolve Congress, and was arrested on his way to the Mexican embassy to seek asylum.

He and Chavez, his prime minister at the time, faced charges of plotting a coup over the bid to dissolve Congress.

While Castillo has been in jail since his arrest, Chavez was released on bail and sought asylum in the Mexican embassy in November 2025.

The move prompted a furious reaction from the Peruvian government and triggered a diplomatic tit-for-tat, which included Peru's Congress voting to declare Sheinbaum persona non grata.

Peru's Foreign Minister Carlos Espa said he was "very happy" about restoring ties with Mexico on Friday.

Chavez's journey to Mexico had occurred "in a context of security and calm," Espa told the Canal N television channel.

Castillo is meanwhile serving a prison sentence exceeding 11 years, which Mexico continues to dispute.

"We are going to keep defending president Castillo," said Sheinbaum.

"The new government of Peru knows it, but it's a step," she added, referring to Friday's reconciliation.

Fujimori, who narrowly won a runoff election in June, had said she hoped to mend ties with Mexico.

She took office in late July, becoming Peru's ninth president in a decade, including a series of interim leaders following Castillo's ouster.

Mexico has historically welcomed people who report political prosecution, and in recent years has granted asylum to figures including Bolivia's socialist ex-leader Evo Morales and former Ecuadoran vice president Jorge Glas.

T.Ueda--JT