Mexico Condemns Ecuador Embassy Raid as Illegal According to World Court

Mexico has taken Ecuador to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over an armed raid on its embassy in Quito, which Mexico claims breached international law. The incident involved the dramatic arrest of Ecuador’s former Vice President Jorge Glas, who had been living in the Mexican embassy since December and was seized by Ecuadorean police in a raid shortly after Mexico granted him asylum status.

Alejandro Celorio, a legal adviser to Mexico’s foreign ministry, argued that there is no rule under international law that could justify the assault on the embassy, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic immunity in international relations. Mexico has demanded that Ecuador be suspended from the United Nations unless it issues a public apology and offers reparations for the harm caused.

During the hearing at the ICJ, Mexico requested emergency measures to secure its diplomatic premises in Ecuador and allow Mexican officials access to clear diplomatic buildings and diplomats’ private homes. Ecuador is expected to respond to Mexico’s demands for emergency measures.

In a tit-for-tat move, Ecuador has also filed a case against Mexico at the ICJ, accusing Mexico of breaking international law by granting asylum to Glas. The outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for diplomatic relations between the two countries and the international community as a whole.

ICJ cases typically take years to reach a final judgment, and while the court’s rulings are legally binding, enforcement mechanisms are limited. The dispute between Mexico and Ecuador underscores the complex and delicate nature of diplomatic relations in the modern world.