United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced his alarm following Ecuador’s unprecedented raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, the nation’s capital. The raid, which resulted in the arrest of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, has sparked international condemnation and a severe diplomatic fallout between México and Ecuador.
In a strong statement released on Saturday, Guterres reiterated the “cardinal principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel.” He emphasized that this foundational principle of international law must be upheld “in all cases,” highlighting the gravity of the situation. The arrest of Mr. Glas, who had been granted asylum by Mexico and was seeking refuge within the embassy, is at the heart of this escalating diplomatic row. The Ecuadorian government, led by President Daniel Noboa, justified the raid by arguing that standard diplomatic protocols were superseded by the corruption charges Mr. Glas is currently facing.
Diplomatic Relations Severed Amidst International Outcry
The Secretary-General’s statement underscored the critical importance of respecting diplomatic immunity for maintaining stable international relations. “Violations of this principle jeopardize the pursuit of normal international relations, which are critical for the advancement of cooperation between States,” the statement emphasized.
The repercussions of the embassy breach were swift and severe. Mexico immediately suspended diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reportedly denounced Ecuador’s actions as “authoritarian” and a blatant violation of national sovereignty. The condemnation extended across the Latin American region and beyond, with governments spanning the political spectrum, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay, joining in the criticism of Ecuador’s incursion.
Asylum Granted, Corruption Allegations Ignored
Jorge Glas, the central figure in this diplomatic storm, had been residing in the Mexican embassy since December, seeking asylum. Mexico granted asylum to Mr. Glas on Friday, prior to the raid. Ecuadorian authorities, however, entered the embassy to apprehend him, disregarding Mexico’s asylum grant and the established international norms protecting diplomatic missions. Social media footage captured Mr. Glas being escorted by a police convoy to the airport in Quito before his transfer to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city.
Mr. Glas’s legal battles are complex. He was previously convicted in 2017 on bribery charges linked to a Brazilian construction firm, accused of accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts. While he maintains that the new corruption charges against him are politically motivated, the Ecuadorian government has pursued his arrest with determination.
Calls for Moderation and Peaceful Dialogue
In the wake of this escalating crisis, Secretary-General Guterres has urged de-escalation and dialogue. He “calls for moderation and exhorts both Governments to solve their differences through peaceful means,” the UN statement concluded. Echoing this sentiment, the Organization of American States (OAS), based in Washington, D.C., has also advocated for dialogue between Ecuador and Mexico to resolve the deepening diplomatic rift. The OAS announced an upcoming meeting of its permanent council to address the situation and reinforce the necessity of strict adherence to international laws, particularly those safeguarding the right to asylum. The international community now watches closely as México and Ecuador navigate this unprecedented diplomatic crisis.
