Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ecuador after the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas. Glas had sought political asylum at the Mexican embassy in Quito after being indicted on corruption charges. Ecuadorian police forcibly entered the embassy to arrest Glas, causing injuries to diplomats. Mexico responded by recalling its diplomats and stating that it would take the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to denounce Ecuador’s violations of international law. Ecuador’s Foreign Minister defended the decision to enter the embassy due to Glas’ alleged imminent flight risk and the inadmissibility of granting asylum to individuals convicted of common crimes.
Authorities in Ecuador are investigating Glas for corruption and bribery charges related to reconstruction efforts after a 2016 earthquake. The Organization of American States reminded Ecuador and Mexico of their international obligations, while the Spanish foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department condemned the violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and called for the resolution of the dispute. Honduran President Xiomara Castro also criticized the raid as a violation of international law and Mexico’s right to grant asylum. Despite the controversy, Glas was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil following his arrest.
The use of force to enter diplomatic premises, such as the Mexican embassy in Quito, is considered a violation of the Vienna treaties. People seeking asylum have historically found refuge in embassies, as seen in cases like that of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Glas’s attorney reported that he was mistreated by authorities during his arrest and stated that his defense team was not allowed to communicate with him while he was in custody. The events in Ecuador have sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries, leading to the severing of diplomatic relations and calls for international law to be respected.
The situation involving Jorge Glas and the Mexican embassy in Quito has drawn condemnation from various international actors and raised concerns about the violation of diplomatic norms and the right to seek asylum. The dispute highlights the complexities of balancing national sovereignty, international law, and individual rights in cases involving corruption allegations and legal proceedings. The decision to enter the embassy to arrest Glas has triggered a diplomatic crisis between Mexico and Ecuador, prompting responses from other countries and international bodies calling for a resolution to the conflict. The impact of this incident on diplomatic relations and the rule of law in the region remains to be seen as both countries navigate the consequences of their actions.
