Mexico and Ecuador face a diplomatic crisis, potentially exacerbating internal conflicts in the Latin American region.
On April 5th, the Mexican Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of diplomatic relations with the Ecuadorian government. This decision was prompted by the Ecuadorian police's forcible entry into the Mexican embassy in Ecuador and the detention of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who sought refuge in the embassy. The Mexican Foreign Ministry considers this a blatant violation of international law and Mexico's sovereignty.
Glas served as Vice President under President Correa from 2013 to 2017. He applied for political asylum in Mexico in December 2023 and has since remained inside the Mexican embassy in Ecuador. On the 5th of April, Mexico requested Glas to leave Ecuador within the framework of diplomatic asylum conventions, but the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry refused to provide a safe passage. Later that night, Ecuadorian police forcibly entered the Mexican embassy and took Glas away. The Ecuadorian presidency subsequently confirmed Glas's arrest.
The Mexican Foreign Ministry subsequently announced the return of the first batch of diplomatic personnel from Ecuador and the temporary closure of the Mexican embassy in Ecuador, suspending consular services for Mexican citizens. The Mexican Foreign Minister stated that Mexico would appeal to the International Court of Justice to hold Ecuador accountable for its violation of international law. In response, the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister stated in a press conference that Ecuador had repeatedly requested Mexico to hand over Glas without success. He argued that Glas was suspected of corruption and should not be granted political asylum, thus justifying Ecuador's action to defend its sovereignty.
This incident has elicited strong reactions from several Latin American countries. Many nations, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay, have voiced their support for Mexico and condemned Ecuador's violation of international law. The US State Department also condemned the action and urged both countries to resolve their differences according to international norms.
In recent years, Ecuador's security situation has undergone significant changes due to rampant drug trafficking and escalating violence. However, the actions of the current Ecuadorian government have further exacerbated diplomatic crises with Latin American countries during challenging times. Analysts suggest that the rupture in diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador may accelerate political polarization in Latin America and escalate internal conflicts. Currently, Honduras, the rotating chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Community (CELAC), has urgently convened a meeting of the three major pillar countries on April 8th to discuss the response to the Mexican-Ecuadorian diplomatic crisis, followed by a ministerial-level meeting on April 9th.