Background on the Situation
Peru has announced its intention to request a review of asylum diplomatic norms in the region following Mexico’s decision to grant protection to former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez. This move comes after Peru severed diplomatic ties with Mexico, deeming Chávez’s asylum an interference in its internal affairs. Chávez is currently facing charges for her involvement in the attempted coup against former President Pedro Castillo in December 2022.
Historical Context
Since the adoption of the 1954 Caracas Convention on asylum diplomacy, there has been a documented misuse of this norm, categorizing common crimes as political persecution cases. Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged this issue in a statement, emphasizing that the convention should not be used to evade national laws or allow individuals who have broken the law to escape judicial decisions.
Peru’s Proposal
In response to these concerns, Peru intends to present a proposal to the Organization of American States (OEA) countries to amend the convention. The aim is to prevent further misinterpretations of its essence, according to Peru’s Foreign Ministry.
Current Status
Chávez, who has been on trial for rebellion since March 2025, faces a potential 25-year prison sentence. She has been staying at the Mexican ambassador’s residence in Lima since Monday, awaiting a safe-conduct to leave the country.
Diplomatic Tensions
The Peruvian parliament declared Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, “persona non grata” on Thursday due to her “unacceptable interference” in Peru’s internal matters. Mexico, however, denied these accusations, stating that it has not intervened in Peru’s internal affairs.
Escalation of Tensions
Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate following Castillo’s ousting, with Mexico granting asylum to his wife and two children. Since then, both governments have withdrawn their respective ambassadors, though they continue to maintain bilateral commercial exchanges.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Betssy Chávez? Betssy Chávez is the former Prime Minister of Peru, currently facing charges for her involvement in an attempted coup against former President Pedro Castillo.
- Why is Peru seeking to reform asylum norms? Peru aims to address the misuse of asylum diplomacy norms, which have been used to evade national laws and protect individuals who have broken the law.
- What is the current status of Betssy Chávez? Chávez, who faces a potential 25-year prison sentence for rebellion, is currently staying at the Mexican ambassador’s residence in Lima, awaiting a safe-conduct to leave the country.
- Why did Peru sever diplomatic ties with Mexico? Peru accused Mexico of interfering in its internal affairs by granting asylum to Chávez, which led to the severance of diplomatic relations.
- How has Mexico responded to Peru’s accusations? Mexico denied interfering in Peru’s internal affairs, maintaining that it has not taken any actions related to Peru’s domestic matters.
