Mexico laments Peru’s decision to withdraw ambassador

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - The Mexican Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it laments Peru’s decision to recall its ambassador.

"The Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Foreign Ministry, regrets the decision of the current government of the Republic of Peru to reduce the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries to that of Chargé d'Affaires and to definitively recall Ambassador Manuel Gerardo Talavera, who was recalled for consultations on December 15, 2022," it said in a statement.

The decision follows growing diplomatic tension between the two countries because of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's criticisms of de-facto Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, whose presidency he accused of being illegitimate.

Boluarte announced her decision Feb. 24 to recall Talavera and denounced Lopez Obrador's ironclad support for deposed President Pedro Castillo, who is in custody and charged with rebellion and corruption.

"I strongly reject the remarks made by the President of Mexico on Peru's internal affairs and his unacceptable repeated questioning of the constitutional and democratic origin of my government. Mr. Lopez has decided to support the coup d'état of former President Pedro Castillo, the same one that generated the unanimous rejection of the institutions that make up the democratic order in Peru," Boluarte said in a statement.

After Castillo's ouster from power on Dec. 7, Boluarte, who was vice president to Castillo, took power. Following Castillo's arrest, Lopez Obrador continued to pledge support for Castillo and his family who have been living under refuge in Mexico since Dec. 21.

Boluarte's government expelled the Mexican Ambassador to Peru, Pablo Monroy, and labeled him as “persona non-grata."

In addition, Lopez Obrador has been outspoken in his criticism and downright rejection of Boluarte's government. On repeated occasions, the Mexican leader has accused Boluarte of rising to power through undemocratic and violent means, saying her government is serving the interests of Peru's political and economic elite.

But Lopez Obrador is not the only political figure in Latin America who has condemned Boluarte's government. Leaders such as Colombia's Gustavo Petro, Brazil's Lula de Silva and former Bolivian President Evo Morales have slammed Boluarte's administration.

The Peruvian Congress has moved to ban the three leaders from Peru.