Nicaragua Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Ecuador

Nicaragua announced on Saturday the severance of "any diplomatic relationship" with Ecuador following the Ecuadorian police's raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito in an attempt to arrest Ecuador's former Vice President, Jorge Glas, who sought refuge there.

In a statement, the government of President Daniel Ortega declared, "Given the unusual and condemned action (...), which is met with unequivocal rejection, we have taken the sovereign decision to sever any diplomatic relationship with the government of Ecuador."

With this decision, Nicaragua sends a signal to Panama, as Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) has sought refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy since February 7, avoiding imprisonment following a money laundering conviction.

A diplomatic crisis erupted between Ecuador and Mexico after Mexico severed ties with Quito following the Ecuadorian police's raid on the Mexican embassy to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, who sought asylum there.