Peru Congress Declares Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum 'Persona Non Grata'

Fri Nov 07 2025 07:58:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant diplomatic rift, Peru's Congress has labeled Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as unwelcome, following the nation's severance of diplomatic ties stemming from asylum granted to a former Peruvian prime minister.

In a decisive vote, Peru's Congress has declared Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum 'persona non grata', escalating tensions between the two countries. The declaration follows Mexico's support for former Peruvian PM Betssy Chávez, sought for her connections to a 2022 coup attempt. This marks another episode in an ongoing diplomatic fallout characterized by accusations and strained relations.

Peru's Congress has voted to declare Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as 'persona non grata' - or unwelcome in the country.

The decision comes days after Peru severed diplomatic ties with Mexico, after the Mexican government granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who faces charges related to a 2022 coup attempt.

Chávez denies that she played a role in the alleged coup plotted by ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, and she has taken refuge in the Mexican embassy in Lima.

Mexico asserts that it has offered Chávez asylum in accordance with international law, dismissing Peru's claims that it is an 'unfriendly act'.

The declaration was passed in a 63-33 vote in the Peruvian Congress, further escalating tensions between the two Latin American nations.

During the vote, legislators accused Sheinbaum of having ties to drug trafficking but provided no supporting evidence for this claim.

Chávez had been imprisoned in June 2023 for her supposed involvement in Castillo's coup attempt but was released on bail in September.

The Peruvian Foreign Minister, Hugo de Zela, stated that legal experts are reviewing the 1954 Caracas Convention on diplomatic asylum, which Mexico cited to justify its asylum offer.

He added that Mexico is attempting to portray the coup attempt authors as victims, while Peruvians wish to uphold democratic values, a sentiment recognized globally, except for Mexico.

Peru has accused Mexico of multiple instances of interference in its domestic affairs, including the expulsion of Mexico's ambassador after asylum was granted to Castillo's family following his arrest.

The tensions have roots that extend back to a Congressional proposal to label Sheinbaum as 'persona non grata' due to her comments regarding Castillo's attempted coup and calls for his release.

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