Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ecuador after the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas. The dramatic turn of events unfolded late Friday when Ecuadorian police broke into the Mexican embassy in Quito to apprehend Glas, who had sought asylum there after being indicted on corruption charges.
The raid sparked outrage from Mexican officials, with the head of the Mexican consular section in Quito expressing concern for Glas’ safety and condemning the breach of diplomatic norms. Mexico’s secretary of foreign relations revealed that several diplomats were injured during the incident and vowed to take the case to the International Court of Justice to denounce Ecuador’s actions.
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister defended the decision to enter the embassy, citing Glas’ alleged flight risk and the illegality of granting asylum to individuals convicted of common crimes. Authorities are investigating Glas for corruption related to his management of earthquake reconstruction efforts in 2016, as well as other bribery charges.
The international community has weighed in on the controversy, with Spain and the United States condemning the violation of diplomatic norms and calling for a resolution between the two countries. Honduran President Xiomara Castro characterized the raid as an affront to international law and the right to asylum.
Glas has since been transferred to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil, where he will remain in custody. His attorney has alleged mistreatment during his arrest and is working to file a habeas corpus petition.
The incident has raised questions about the sanctity of diplomatic premises and the rights of individuals seeking asylum. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see how Ecuador and Mexico will navigate this diplomatic crisis.
