Mexico severs diplomatic relations with Ecuador following the arrest of Jorge Glas

Mexico Cuts Ties with Ecuador After Police Storm Mexican Embassy

In a dramatic turn of events, Mexico has decided to sever diplomatic ties with Ecuador after police forcibly entered the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice-President Jorge Glas. The incident, which Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador described as a “flagrant violation of international law,” has escalated tensions between the two countries.

Glas had sought refuge in the Mexican embassy last December after Ecuador issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged corruption. Despite maintaining his innocence, Glas was flown under police guard to the city of Guayaquil and is now expected to await trial in a maximum security prison.

This is not the first time Glas has faced legal troubles. He previously served as Ecuador’s vice-president between 2013 and 2017 but was relieved of his duties due to mounting corruption allegations. In 2017, he was sentenced to six years in jail for his involvement in corruption at the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, where prosecutors claimed he accepted $13.5 million in bribes.

The situation further escalated when Mexico granted Glas political asylum, a move that Ecuador deemed illegal. The Ecuadorian Presidency stated, “Ecuador is a sovereign nation and we are not going to allow any criminal to stay free,” emphasizing their commitment to upholding the rule of law.

The fallout from this incident has led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador, with Mexico’s Mr. Obrador ordering the immediate suspension of ties. The situation remains tense, with both countries at odds over the handling of Glas’s arrest and the broader implications for their relationship.