Peru’s Congress has formally declared Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador persona non grata, escalating a diplomatic standoff that has now seen both countries sever ties following Mexico’s decision to grant asylum to a former Peruvian prime minister.

The motion passed late Thursday by a wide margin in Lima’s legislature, accusing López Obrador of “repeated interference in Peru’s internal affairs” and of violating diplomatic norms through his government’s asylum decision.

It comes just days after Peru cut diplomatic relations with Mexico, ordering the closure of its embassy in Mexico City and the withdrawal of its ambassador.

“This is a matter of national sovereignty,” said Peruvian lawmaker María del Carmen Alva, who sponsored the motion. “Mexico’s actions represent a deliberate intrusion into our domestic political process.”

How the Rift Escalated

The crisis began when Mexico granted political asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Aníbal Torres, an ally of ousted President Pedro Castillo, who was removed from office in 2022 after an attempted dissolution of Congress. Torres, facing corruption and rebellion charges in Peru, fled to the Mexican embassy in Lima last week.

Mexico’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Torres had been granted asylum “on humanitarian grounds,” prompting a swift and furious response from Peru’s government. Lima accused Mexico of harboring fugitives and undermining judicial independence.

“Peru will not tolerate any country sheltering those who have attacked its democratic institutions,” the Peruvian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Mexico’s Response

President López Obrador has defended the asylum decision, saying it aligns with Mexico’s long tradition of offering protection to political dissidents.

“We act according to the principles of solidarity and human rights,” López Obrador told reporters in Mexico City. “We don’t interfere, but we don’t abandon those who are persecuted either.”

The Mexican leader has frequently criticized Peru’s government under President Dina Boluarte, calling her administration “illegitimate” after Castillo’s ouster — remarks that have angered Peruvian officials since 2023.

Diplomatic Fallout

The persona non grata declaration effectively bars López Obrador and any senior Mexican envoy from official visits to Peru. Analysts say it marks one of the deepest bilateral ruptures in Latin America in recent years.

Peru’s decision follows months of tension between López Obrador and several South American governments over his populist foreign policy, which critics say blurs the line between diplomacy and activism.

Regional observers warn that the standoff could complicate trade and security cooperation across the Pacific Alliance, a regional bloc that includes both nations alongside Chile and Colombia.

“This is a symbolic but consequential move,” said Dr. Lucía Herrera, a Latin American political analyst at the University of Santiago. “It sends a message that Peru’s Congress sees López Obrador as a destabilizing actor in regional politics.”

What’s Next

With both embassies now closed and relations effectively frozen, the future of bilateral cooperation on migration, trade, and education programs remains uncertain.

Peru’s government insists that diplomatic relations can only be restored if Mexico “respects the rule of law and stops shielding fugitives.”

Meanwhile, Mexico shows no sign of backing down. López Obrador has dismissed the persona non grata designation as “a political gesture without substance.”