Ecuador Has Been Criticized For Raiding Mexico’s Embassy
Ecuador has been criticized for raiding Mexico’s embassy. Police raided the Mexican embassy in Quito to detain a former Ecuadorian vice president. The former Ecuadorian vice President, Jorge Glas, was seeking asylum in Mexico’s embassy. As a result, Mexico has broken off relations with Ecuador.
Mexico said it will file a case against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrado said on a post on X that Ecuador’s actions were “a flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico.”
Latin American leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the incident. Under diplomatic norms, embassies are considered protected spaces. Ecuadorian Vice President Glas has since been transferred to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil, Ecuadorian authorities said.
Glas’ lawyers have filed an appeal for his release on the grounds of unlawful detention. It is unclear when a judge may rule on the request. Glas, who has been convicted twice on corruption charges, served under leftist ex-President Rafael Correa between 2013 and 2017. He has been accused by Ecuadorian authorities of embezzling government funds meant to help rebuild after a devastating 2016 earthquake.
Following his arrest, a host of Latin American countries condemned Ecuador. Nicaragua has joined Mexico in severing diplomatic ties with Ecuador. Whether right or left wing, all Latin American governments criticized Ecuador. While not big geopolitical players, South American nations have been united in their condemnation of Ecuador. Mexico said that its embassy in Ecuador will remain closed indefinitely.
Ecuador has been criticized for raiding Mexico’s embassy. How long will Mexico and Ecuador not have diplomatic relations? It seems that unless something changes, they will not have relations for a long time.
