LIMA, Peru: Peru has announced it is cutting diplomatic ties with Mexico, escalating a dispute over Mexico's decision to grant asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez.

Chávez is currently under investigation in Peru for rebellion linked to the political crisis that shook the country in December 2022.

Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela said Mexico's move to shelter Chávez at its embassy in Lima is an "unfriendly act" that increases tensions between the two nations. Peru's presidential office also issued a statement accusing Mexico of repeatedly interfering in its internal politics.

Chávez served as prime minister under former President Pedro Castillo. In December 2022, Castillo attempted to dissolve Peru's Congress and declare emergency rule as lawmakers prepared to impeach him. The military did not support his order, and he was quickly removed from office. Castillo was then arrested and charged with attempting a coup.

Peruvian prosecutors accuse Chávez of helping Castillo's failed attempt to seize power. If convicted of rebellion-related charges, she could face as many as 25 years in prison. De Zela said the government was surprised and disappointed to learn that Chávez had taken refuge inside the Mexican Embassy.

Mexico did not immediately respond to Peru's announcement.

This latest dispute adds to the diplomatic breakdown that began after Castillo's ouster. Castillo, a leftist former schoolteacher who won the presidency promising change, has maintained that his removal was unjust. Mexico's leaders have supported him, calling him a victim of political persecution.

Castillo's wife and children are already living in Mexico, where they received asylum earlier. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Castillo. In October, she declared he was overthrown in a "coup" and insisted he should be released from prison and receive a fair trial.

Peru has firmly rejected Mexico's stance. The Peruvian Foreign Ministry said this week that the Mexican government has acted in a "systematic and unacceptable" way to meddle in Peru's affairs since December 2022. Despite repeated demands to respect Peru's sovereignty, the ministry said, Mexico has continued to take actions that undermine the country's legal processes and political stability.

With diplomatic relations now officially cut, the once-close cooperation between the countries faces an uncertain future. Peru insists it must protect its independence, while Mexico continues to defend the figures who were aligned with Castillo's left-leaning administration.