The same day that Venezuela announced the withdrawal of its ambassador from Peru, a Palestinian Authority (PA) embassy was inaugurated in Caracas as the two governments officially opened diplomatic relations.
Venezuela's April 27 decision to withdraw its ambassador from Peru, suspend the process of accepting the newly assigned Peruvian ambassador to Venezuela and re-evaluate bilateral relations came after Peru's decision to grant asylum to fugitive opposition leader Manuel Rosales.
Rosales is wanted on corruption charges.
Peruvian President Alan Garcia said he did not wish to "alter relations with Venezuela". He explained the decision to grant Rosales asylum was made on "humanitarian grounds".
Undermining such claims, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued an international "wanted persons" for Rosales. The notice was handed over to Interpol Peru the day before the asylum announcement.
Elected on the ticket of the social democratic APRA party, Garcia's government has close relations with the United States and has often criticised regional left-wing governments — especially Venezuela's.
In 2006, tensions between Garcia and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez led to the withdrawal of their respective ambassadors.
Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Maduro said Peru's decision was a "mockery of international law, a strong blow to the fight against corruption and an offence to the people of Venezuela".
Peru has previously granted asylum to two Venezuelan fugitives, former union leader and participant in the 2002 coup against Chavez, Carlos Ortega, and former governor Eduardo Lapi, who faces corruption charges.
Both escaped from prison in Venezuela while awaiting trial.
Rosales was interviewed from Peru by Venezuelan private media — infamous for its anti-Chavez bias. He blasted Chavez as "totalitarian".
Not popular with wanted fugitives, Chavez is a hero half way around the world in the Middle East.
PA foreign minister Raid Al-Malki was reported by ABN on April 27 as saying: "Hugo Chavez, is the most popular leader within the Arab world because of his courage, bravery, support for justice and for supporting a just cause like that of the Palestinians.
"Hugo Chavez has become an international symbol and the passionate voice of the oppressed against injustice and tyranny. We congratulate him for that leadership and we thank him for a new hope."
Al-Malki also thanked Venezuelan people "for their support during the last Israeli invasion into Gaza". He said Palestine appreciated the Venezuelan decision to expel the Israeli ambassador to Venezuela in protest.
AlMalki said the new embassy in Caracas would be the epicentre of Palestine solidarity in Latin America.