After the embassy raid, Mexico undermines diplomatic relations with Ecuador

Mexico's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has violated diplomatic relations with Ecuador shortly after the Ecuadoran police broke into the Mexican Embassy and arrested a former Ecuadoran vice president, who had sought political asylum there after being formally charged with corruption.

Lopez Obrador announced the collapse of relations Friday evening, after Ecuador Police broke into the Mexican Embassy in the Ecuadoran capital, Quito, to arrest Jorge Glass, who had fled there since December.

Glass served as Mexico's vice president from 2013 to 2017. He was acquitted of corruption charges against him.

Later that year, he was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption. Prosecutors said he had taken $13.5 million in bribes.

He was released from prison in November, but the Ecuadoran authorities also issued a warrant for his arrest following new corruption charges. This moved him to seek refuge at the Mexican Embassy.

Police broke into Mexican diplomatic offices in the Ecuadoran capital through the outer doors to arrest Glass.

This is not possible. It can't happen. This is crazy”, said Mexican consulate chief in Quito, Roberto Canesco.

I'm very worried, because they can kill him. There's no reason to do that. This is off any rating”, he added.

Defending his decision, the Ecuador presidency said in a communique: “Ecuador is a sovereign nation, and we will not let any criminals go free”.

Lopez Obrador responded sharply, naming Glass's arrest as <x0 authoritarian action” and “flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico”.

Alicia Barcena, the secretary of Mexico, wrote on the social X network that some diplomats suffered injuries during the police raid, which, according to her, was a violation of the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Diplomatic buildings are named as non-preceptive “ ” in accordance with Vienna treaties and local law rule agencies do not have to be allowed to enter them without prior permission from the ambassador. /rel