LIMA — Peru's President-elect Keiko Fujimori announced on July 10, 2026, her intention to restore diplomatic relations with Mexico. Relations between the two countries were severed in November 2025 after Mexico granted political asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez.

Fujimori won Peru's presidential runoff on June 7, 2026, in her fourth presidential bid. She is scheduled to be sworn in as President of Peru on July 28, 2026, which is Peru's Independence Day. Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez conceded the presidential vote to Fujimori.

Fujimori stated she would work to re-establish diplomatic ties. "On my part, there will be every intention to restore relations between Peru and Mexico," said Fujimori, who made the statement while leaving a public event in Lima.

The diplomatic rupture followed Mexico's decision to grant political asylum to Betssy Chavez in November 2025. Chavez was part of the administration of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo. Castillo, who Fujimori lost to in the 2021 Peruvian presidential election, was elected President of Peru in 2021.

On December 7, 2022, Castillo delivered a televised address stating he would dissolve Congress and rule by decree. The majority of his cabinet resigned following the address. Peru's Congress impeached and removed Castillo from office in December 2022. He was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison in November 2025. Mexico granted asylum to Castillo's family shortly after his detention. Betssy Chavez also sought and was granted asylum at the Mexican embassy in Lima in November 2025, and a Peruvian court issued a warrant for her arrest shortly after she sought asylum. Chavez was sentenced to approximately 11 years in prison.

Peru accused Mexico of interfering in its internal affairs by granting asylum to Castillo's inner circle, declaring the decision an "unfriendly act." Peru declared Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata and banned her from entering the country. Mexico rejected Peru's accusation of interference and called Peru's decision to sever ties "excessive and disproportionate." Mexico stated that granting Chavez asylum was consistent with international law and Mexico's longstanding asylum tradition.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated on July 10, 2026, that she had not yet spoken to Fujimori. Sheinbaum and her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, have been vocal supporters of Castillo, stating that he was the victim of a coup. Sheinbaum said, "We are going to wait." She added, "They broke off relations. Why? Because we said that [former] President Castillo is being held illegally. That is our point of view."