Quito, Ecuador – Tensions between Mexico and Ecuador escalated on Friday night as Ecuadorian police forces stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas. Mexico condemned the act as a violation of international law and announced the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Ecuador.
The rift between the two Latin American countries began when Mexico granted political asylum to Glas, who had been convicted twice on corruption charges in Ecuador. Glas sought refuge in the Mexican embassy, claiming to be a victim of political persecution. However, Ecuadorian authorities forcefully entered the embassy and apprehended him, leading to Mexico’s strong response.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed his outrage over the incident, stating that Glas was a refugee who was in the process of seeking asylum due to the persecution he faced. Ecuador’s government confirmed the arrest, citing Glas’s imprisonment by the Ecuadorian justice system and his violation of diplomatic asylum protocols.
Roberto Canseco, head of chancellery and policy affairs at the Mexican embassy, criticized Ecuador’s actions, calling the arrest of Glas “totally unacceptable” and a violation of the inviolability of the Mexican embassy in Ecuador. Mexico promptly announced the withdrawal of all diplomatic personnel from Ecuador in response to the breach of international norms.
In a further escalation, Mexico announced plans to lodge a complaint with the International Court of Justice to denounce Ecuadorian police’s actions during Glas’s arrest. The situation was exacerbated by López Obrador’s criticism of Ecuador’s recent elections, insinuating irregularities in the voting process and alleging manipulation by presidential candidates.
The diplomatic fallout between Mexico and Ecuador also included Ecuador rejecting Mexico’s ambassador to the country, escalating tensions between the two nations. The incident highlights the fragile nature of diplomatic relations in Latin America and the complexities of asylum and extradition protocols in the region.