Mexico announced on Friday evening the "immediate severance" of its diplomatic relations with Ecuador after Ecuadorian police stormed the Mexican embassy to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, who had sought refuge there.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in a post on the social media platform "X", deemed the embassy raid in Quito as a "flagrant violation of international law and Mexico's sovereignty," according to France-Presse.
Shortly after, Foreign Minister Alicia Parcina wrote on "X" that "Mexico announces the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ecuador," noting that "Mexican diplomatic staff were injured" during the embassy intervention.
Mexico granted asylum on Friday to Jorge Glas, who had an arrest warrant issued against him on corruption charges and had sought refuge in the Mexican embassy since December 17.
Quito immediately denounced this decision as "illegal."
Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian government announced on Friday that "Jorge Glas Espinel, who was sentenced to prison by Ecuadorian justice, was arrested tonight and placed in the custody of the competent authorities," in a statement issued by the Ministry of Communications.
Images broadcasted by local media showed police officers in official uniforms entering the Mexican embassy in northern Quito to arrest Glas.
The Ministry of Communications clarified that "each embassy has a single purpose: to provide diplomatic space to enhance relations between countries," adding that "no criminal can be considered a politically persecuted individual."
It reiterated that former Vice President "Jorge Glas was subject to a binding conviction and an arrest warrant issued by the competent authorities."
Mexico's granting of asylum to Glas came a day after Ecuador decided to expel the Mexican ambassador in Quito, Raquel Serur.
Quito declared the ambassador persona non grata following statements made by the Mexican president regarding political violence in Ecuador.
Follow the latest news on Google News
