Mexico has decided to sever diplomatic ties with Ecuador following a controversial incident involving the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas. The Mexican embassy in Quito was raided by Ecuadorian police in an attempt to apprehend Glas, who was seeking asylum there. This move has prompted Mexico to recall all its diplomatic staff from Ecuador immediately.
The situation escalated when Ecuadorian authorities forcibly entered the Mexican embassy to arrest Glas, who had been convicted of corruption charges and was claiming political persecution. Mexico condemned this action as a violation of international law, as embassies are typically considered protected spaces under diplomatic norms.
The rift between the two Latin American nations had been brewing since Mexico granted political asylum to Glas, who served as vice president under former President Rafael Correa. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denounced the arrest, stating that Glas was a refugee seeking asylum due to persecution and harassment.
Ecuador's government confirmed the arrest of Glas, emphasizing that he had been sentenced to imprisonment by the Ecuadorian justice system. The government criticized the granting of diplomatic asylum to Glas, calling it a breach of legal conventions.
Mexico plans to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice over the violation of its embassy's inviolability. Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs expressed dismay over the lack of prior communication from Ecuador regarding the arrest and highlighted an alleged physical attack on a Mexican embassy official during the incident.
The tensions between the two countries were further exacerbated by López Obrador's comments on Ecuador's recent elections, questioning the legitimacy of the process. This led to Ecuador rejecting Mexico's ambassador and declaring them persona non grata, marking a new low in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
