Ecuadoran police arrested politician Jorge Glas, a former vice president who had taken refuge in the Mexican Embassy in Quito. Mexico suspended diplomatic relations with Ecuador, citing a violation of sovereignty. The arrest came after Ecuador accused Mexico of abusing diplomatic privileges by granting Glas asylum. Diplomatic tensions had been rising between the two countries, culminating in the arrest at the embassy.
Footage showed police entering the embassy as Mexican officials protested, leading to injuries and a breakdown in relations. Mexico condemned the actions and announced plans to appeal to the International Court of Justice. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called the incident a violation of international law.
Glas had been serving a prison sentence for corruption, including receiving bribes from Odebrecht. This led to a warrant for his arrest, sparking the confrontation at the embassy. The rift between Ecuador and Mexico deepened further when López Obrador criticized Ecuador’s president and made remarks about the assassination of a presidential candidate.
Ecuador’s current president, Daniel Noboa, who took office in November, has vowed to tackle corruption and drug-related violence. The nation has been facing challenges from powerful drug-trafficking gangs, leading to increased violence and instability. Noboa declared a state of internal conflict to combat organized crime, despite concerns about civil liberties.
The arrest at the embassy highlights the ongoing political tensions in Ecuador, with diplomatic implications for relations with Mexico. The situation remains fluid as both countries navigate the fallout from the incident.
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