The Diplomatic Decline of Mexico-Peru Relations

The Legislative Palace, seat of the Congress of Peru.

The recent decision by Peru’s Congress to declare Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata (PNG) is the most recent development in what has become a strained relationship between the nations. While labeling a head of state “unwelcome” is more symbolic than anything, it signifies a deteriorating diplomatic relationship.

Relations declined at the beginning of November as Peru’s former prime minister, Betssy Chávez, sought refuge in the Mexican embassy in Lima to request asylum. Peru’s former president Pedro Castillo went on trial in March 2025 and faced charges of rebellion, grave abuse of authority, and disrupting public peace. It’s clear that Peru’s new administration, having already tried Castillo, is now turning its attention to his former prime minister. Following her entry into the Mexican embassy, Peru’s foreign minister announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Mexico. This step alone marks a significant split: full breaks in relations between Latin American neighbors are uncommon and usually reserved for extreme circumstances.

Then, just days later, Peru’s Congress escalated the conflict further by voting to declare Sheinbaum persona non grata. Lawmakers justified the decision by accusing Mexico of repeatedly interfering in Peru’s affairs, and pointed to Mexico’s willingness to grant asylum to high-profile Peruvian political figures. Some members even claimed Sheinbaum had ties to drug traffickers. However, no evidence was presented to back this claim. Mexico counters the allegations and maintains that its actions are consistent with international law.

This most recent development is not an isolated occurrence. The strain in Mexico-Peru relations stretches back to 2022, when Peru expelled the Mexican ambassador after Mexico granted asylum to Castillo’s wife and children following his impeachment and arrest. That moment marked the start of a downward trajectory that neither government has halted some three years later.

Taken together, the asylum disputes, diplomatic expulsions, and now the PNG announcement reflect a relationship rooted in ongoing disrepair rather than one disrupted by a recent break. With neither nation making an effort to rebuild trust, Mexico-Peru ties will continue to unravel and leave longer-term regional cooperation at risk. Such risk and isolation are the last things the states need to be dealing with, given that the Trump administration has injected uncertainty into the Western hemisphere, along with the world more broadly, since returning to office earlier this year. Instead, the nations should focus on where they can collaborate to solve mutual issues.