Mexico cuts ties with Ecuador after Embassy raid

Mexico announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Ecuador following a tumultuous incident at the Mexican embassy in Quito. The event unfolded when Ecuadorian police forcibly entered the embassy to arrest former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas, who had sought asylum there. Glas, who faces convictions on bribery and corruption charges, has been residing in the Mexican embassy since December, sparking a diplomatic rift between the two nations.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador swiftly condemned the Ecuadorian authorities' actions as "authoritarian" and a "flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico." He called for the release of Glas and demanded assurances for the safety of Mexican diplomats. The incident heightened tensions between Mexico and Ecuador, further exacerbated by Ecuador's decision to declare the Mexican ambassador persona non grata in response to statements made by Mexico's president regarding Ecuador's recent elections.

Alicia Bárcena, Mexico's secretary of foreign relations, denounced the embassy breach as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and announced Mexico's intention to bring the case before the International Court of Justice. She also expressed concern over the injuries sustained by diplomats during the confrontation.

In defense of its actions, Ecuador's presidency asserted its commitment to upholding its sovereignty and enforcing the law, stating, "Ecuador is a sovereign nation, and we are not going to allow any criminal to stay free." The Ecuadorian government has yet to respond to Mexico's accusations or requests for dialogue, leaving the diplomatic standoff unresolved.

As tensions simmer between the two countries, the Mexican embassy in Quito remains under heavy police guard, reflecting the heightened security measures amid the diplomatic fallout. The future of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador hangs in the balance, with the incident casting a shadow over bilateral ties and raising questions about adherence to international norms and protocols in diplomatic affairs.

Source: AP News