Diplomatic tensions: Mexico suspends relations with Ecuador after invasion of its embassy in Quito
The President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López, through a social media platform, declared that Ecuador had infringed on Mexican sovereignty and ordered the end of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Police authorities detained former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas, who was at the embassy, and he was later convicted of corruption crimes.
Ecuadorian police in front of the Mexican embassy in Quito, which was raided to arrest former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas - Photo Reproduction/Karen Toro/Reuters
In the latest episode of a series of diplomatic incidents that have shaken international relations in Latin America, Mexico announced the immediate suspension of its diplomatic relations with Ecuador. The movement comes in response after an invasion that took place at the Mexican embassy in Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, which resulted in a political impasse between the two countries. President López Obrador announced the measure on a social network in the early hours of Saturday (6).
The Incident at the Mexican Embassy
The Mexican embassy in Quito was invaded on Friday night (06). According to the Associated Press, a police contingent went to the location with the aim of arresting Jorge Glas, former vice president of Ecuador, sentenced to six years in prison in 2017 for his involvement in a bribery scheme with the construction company Odebrecht, in exchange for government contracts. Glas had received political asylum from Mexico and had been sheltering in the embassy since December 2023, claiming to be the target of persecution by the Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office.
The Mexican president, through a publication on a social network, declared that he had been informed of the invasion bySecretary of Foreign Affairs, reinforcing that the incident represents a violation of international law and Mexican sovereignty.
"I have instructed our foreign minister to issue a statement regarding this authoritarian act, proceed legally and immediately declare the suspension of diplomatic relations with the government of Ecuador," López Obrador wrote.
Following the precepts of Vienna Convention Regarding Diplomatic Relations, established in 1961, the spaces that house a country's diplomatic missions in foreign territory, such as embassies and consulates, are considered sacrosanct. Both Ecuador and Mexico ratified this norm during the 1960s. According to the treaty, the entry of State agents into these locations is subject to authorization granted by the head of the foreign mission. In other words, in the context of Ecuador, law enforcement authorities should obtain permission from the Mexican ambassador before entering the Mexican Embassy.
Mexican Concession
On Friday (05), the Mexican government announced the granting of political asylum to Glas. In response, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Mexico of violating political asylum agreements and requested authorization to enter the embassy in Quito and arrest Glas. On the evening of the same day, a group of Ecuadorian police officers, in dark vehicles, went to the Mexican Embassy. According to the Associated Press, the agents broke down the external doors of the embassy and entered the place, while the main access avenue was closed by the police.
The person in charge of the Mexican Embassy in Ecuador, Roberto Canseco, denounced what happened as a flagrant violation of international law, classifying it as "unacceptable" and "barbaric". He compared the action to the invasion of criminals. In turn, the Ecuadorian government, in a statement, stated that it will not allow impunity for any criminal, referring to Jorge Glas. The note also highlights Ecuador's respect for the Mexican people and the role of embassies in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.
Regional Tensions
Tension between Mexico and Ecuador intensified after statements by President López Obrador about the 2023 Ecuadorian elections. In a speech on Wednesday (3), Obrador equated the murder of Fernando Villavicencio, candidate for President of Ecuador, with the violence that is plaguing the current Mexican electoral period.
Villavicencio was murdered in August 2023, shortly after a rally in Quito. At the same time, in Mexico, several local candidates have been victims of murder in recent weeks, amid preparations for elections scheduled for June. Obrador also argued that the left-wing candidate, Luisa González, defeated in the Ecuadorian elections, was unfairly linked to Villavicencio's murder. Furthermore, the Mexican president accused the Ecuadorian media of corruption.
The comparison made by López Obrador was intended to criticize the Mexican media, which have often been the target of his criticism. In response, the Ecuadorian government classified Obrador's statements as "unfortunate" and declared the Mexican ambassador "persona non grata '', a term used in international law to indicate that a foreign official representative is no longer welcome.
