Mexico has severed diplomatic relations with Ecuador after an unprecedented move by Ecuadorian police to raid the Mexican embassy in Quito. The raid aimed to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who had sought asylum within the embassy’s premises.

The diplomatic rift escalated following Mexico’s decision to grant political asylum to Glas, who faced corruption charges in Ecuador. Despite his convictions, Glas claimed political persecution and sought refuge in the Mexican embassy.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador condemned the raid as a violation of international law, asserting that Ecuadorian police forcibly took Glas from the embassy. Video footage showed armed officers surrounding the diplomatic compound during the operation.

Ecuador justified the raid, citing a risk of Glas’s escape and accusing Mexico of allowing him to evade legal proceedings. Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld criticized Mexico’s stance, emphasizing that Glas had been convicted and was subject to an arrest warrant.

In response to Ecuador’s actions, Mexico plans to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice. The situation worsened as Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena reported physical attacks on Mexican embassy staff during the raid.

Tensions between the two nations heightened further when López Obrador criticized Ecuador’s recent elections, prompting Ecuador to declare Mexico’s ambassador persona non grata.

The United Nations expressed alarm over the breach of diplomatic norms, emphasizing the inviolability of diplomatic premises and personnel. Latin American leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, condemned Ecuador’s actions, labeling Glas’s asylum rights as violated.

The incident reflects a broader trend in Latin America, where leaders resort to unconventional measures in combating organized crime. Ecuador, once regarded as a bastion of peace, faces escalating violence, leading President Daniel Noboa to declare an “internal armed conflict” against criminal groups earlier this year.

The rupture in diplomatic ties between Mexico and Ecuador underscores the fragility of regional relations and the challenges posed by transnational crime.