Security forces in Ecuador forced their way into the Mexican embassy in Quito and arrested former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas, prompting Mexico to suspend bilateral ties.

Former Ecuadorian Vice President Arrested

Arrest and Diplomatic Fallout

Glas, who is wanted for corruption, had been residing for months in Mexico's embassy in the Ecuadorian capital. The Mexican Foreign Ministry announced it would grant Glas asylum, enraging Ecuador and leading to the suspension of diplomatic relations.

Key Takeaways

Ecuador's presidency accused Mexico of violating international agreements and said that Glas was the subject of an arrest warrant for embezzlement that needed to be acted upon.

Background and Accusations

Glas was vice president of Ecuador during the second term of office of left-wing president Rafael Correa. He was convicted in absentia in 2020 as part of a sweeping political corruption investigation and now lives in Belgium.

"Ecuador's conservative government under President Daniel Noboa declared the Mexican ambassador persona non grata. This was prompted by left-wing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador saying that the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Ecuador last August had contributed to Noboa's election victory in October."

International Relations

Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena said Mexico's actions constituted a "flagrant and serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations" by forcibly entering the Mexican embassy to get Glas.