Peru Cuts Ties With Mexico Over Ex-Prime Minister's Asylum Claim
Above: Pedro Castillo shakes hands with Betssy Chavez during a swearing-in ceremony at the Government Palace in Lima, Peru, on Feb. 8, 2022. Image copyright: Angela Ponce/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Peru has shamefully cut diplomatic ties with Mexico after it granted asylum to Betssy Chavez, a key figure in Pedro Castillo’s 2022 coup attempt to dissolve Congress. This interference undermines Peru's sovereignty and supports evasion of justice. Peru's decisive action protects its democracy from foreign influence that disregards the will of its people.
Left narrative
Mexico has granted asylum to Betssy Chavez, who faces harsh prosecution in Peru over the 2022 ousting of Pedro Castillo, the country’s first president from a poor background. This highlights Peru's weak grip on power and refusal to ensure fair trials for dissenters. By offering refuge to the persecuted, Mexico is defending justice against Peru's authoritarian crackdown.
