The diplomatic relationship between Ecuador and Mexico reached a breaking point when the Mexican Embassy in Quito was stormed by Ecuadorian police, who captured former Vice President Jorge Glas. The Mexican Embassy staff were instructed to leave Ecuador immediately and Mexico planned to appeal to the International Court of Justice to denounce Ecuador’s violations of international law.
The tension between the two countries had been building for months due to the case of Glas, who was convicted of corruption in Ecuador and sought asylum at the Mexican Embassy. However, the assault on the Embassy escalated the crisis, leading to unprecedented levels of tension between the two nations.
In response to this violation of diplomatic protocols, Mexico ordered the immediate suspension of diplomatic relations with Ecuador, citing injuries suffered by Mexican diplomatic personnel and violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Ecuador had previously warned Mexico that they would not grant safe passage out of the country as political asylum, leading to a standoff between the two nations. The expulsion of the Mexican ambassador by Ecuador further strained relations and prompted Mexico to sever diplomatic ties.
The Mexican government expressed concern over Ecuadorian police presence outside the Embassy, which they deemed as harassment. Statements by President Andrés Manuel López regarding Ecuador’s elections and subsequent murder of a mayoral candidate also fueled tensions between the two countries.
