Peru takes over chairmanship of Pacific Alliance after tensions with Mexico

The government of Peru has announced that it will assume the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance starting from August 1st, following tensions with Mexico, which had refused to transfer regional leadership due to the imprisonment of former president Pedro Castillo.

In a consensual decision reaffirming the importance of preserving the bloc as a mechanism for economic, commercial, and cooperative integration, Peru will take on the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance on August 1st, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Andean nation on Twitter.

According to a statement published on its website, the Peruvian government informed that the member countries of the bloc, gathered in the city of Santiago, agreed that the Chilean government would assume the pro tempore presidency of the Alliance from June 28th and later transfer it to Peru.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Alberto van Klaveren; the Mexican Ambassador to Chile, Alicia Bárcena; the Chargé d’Affaires of Peru in Chile, Renzo Villa Prado, and the Chargé d’Affaires of Colombia in Chile, René Correa Rodríguez.

The government of Dina Boluarte stated that there is the political will to continue betting on “Latin American integration,” which fosters dialogue, economic and trade exchange, cooperation, and international engagement.

A statement issued by the Pacific Alliance details that with this step, “Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacific Alliance as a mechanism for political articulation, economic and trade integration, cooperation, and projection to the world.”

This decision comes amid tensions between Mexico and Peru.

Since December 2022, when former Peruvian president Pedro Castillo was removed from office and detained after dissolving Congress, the Mexican president has been in constant friction with the government of Dina Boluarte, whom he has referred to as illegitimate.

On the other hand, Boluarte, whose disapproval rating was 76.9% as of May, according to CPI Research, accused López Obrador of interference and criticized the Mexican president for refusing to hand over the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated in late May that he did not want to perpetuate himself in the presidency of the alliance.

However, he explained that he could not transfer the position to Colombia either, as Gustavo Petro is also unwelcome in Peruvian territory. Finally, he handed over the pro tempore presidency to Chile.

López Obrador repeatedly stated that his government is not interested in maintaining commercial or political relations with Peru until there is “democratic normality” in the country.