Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ecuador after the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who sought political asylum at the Mexican embassy. Ecuadorian police broke through the embassy’s doors to arrest Glas, leading to injuries to diplomats. Mexico plans to take the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to denounce Ecuador’s responsibility for violations of international law. Ecuador’s Foreign Minister justified the decision to enter the embassy, citing Glas’ imminent flight risk and Mexico granting him asylum hours before the raid. Authorities are investigating Glas for alleged irregularities during his management of earthquake reconstruction efforts.
The Organization of American States reminded its members of their obligation not to use domestic laws to avoid international obligations. The Spanish foreign ministry condemned the forced entry into the Mexican embassy as a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The U.S. State Department also emphasized the importance of respecting diplomatic missions’ inviolability under international law. Honduran President Xiomara Castro characterized the raid as an intolerable act that ignored Mexico’s right to asylum, calling it a violation of international law.
Glas was taken to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil after resisting arrest and alleged mistreatment by law enforcement officers. His defense team was not allowed to speak with him while he was at the prosecutor’s office, and they are working to file a habeas corpus petition. Diplomatic premises are considered foreign soil and are inviolable under the Vienna treaties, meaning that host country law enforcement agencies are not allowed to enter without permission. People seeking asylum have sought refuge in embassies around the world, similar to how Julian Assange lived in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years.
The situation between Mexico and Ecuador has elicited responses from various countries and organizations, with many condemning the violation of diplomatic protocols and calling for a peaceful resolution. While Mexico severed diplomatic relations with Ecuador, the international community is urging both countries to resolve their differences through dialogue and adherence to international law. The arrest of Glas and the ensuing diplomatic fallout serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding diplomatic norms and respecting the rights of individuals seeking asylum. The implications of this incident on the relationship between Mexico and Ecuador, as well as on international diplomacy, remain to be seen as the situation unfolds.
