Mexico has granted political asylum to former Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas, announced the foreign ministry on Friday.

This decision follows Ecuador's declaration of Mexico's ambassador as persona non grata, heightening tensions between the two nations, Reuters reports.

Glas, convicted twice for corruption charges, has taken refuge in Mexico's embassy in Quito since December, seeking asylum due to alleged persecution by Ecuador's attorney general's office.

Ecuador's foreign ministry responded by refusing to provide Glas with safe passage out of the country, asserting that Mexico's actions violate political asylum agreements.

Ecuadorean authorities had previously sought permission to enter the embassy and arrest Glas, who received a six-year prison sentence in 2017 for accepting bribes from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction firm.

In a statement, Ecuador's foreign ministry criticized Mexico's granting of diplomatic asylum as an illicit act that facilitates evasion of justice and promotes impunity.

It emphasized Ecuador's commitment to impartial legal proceedings regardless of political affiliations.

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Increased Tensions and Diplomatic Spat

Ecuador condemned the heightened presence of its police forces outside the Mexican embassy in Quito, where Jorge Glas has sought refuge, Aljazeera noted.

The situation escalated after Ecuador declared Mexico's ambassador persona non grata, a response to remarks made by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during a news briefing.

Lopez Obrador's comments insinuated that violence influenced Ecuador's recent presidential elections, referencing the assassination of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023.

He suggested that the murder affected the electoral outcome, favoring Daniel Noboa over Luisa Gonzalez.

Villavicencio, an anticorruption advocate, was critical of Gonzalez's left-wing party.

The subsequent runoff vote saw Noboa narrowly winning the presidency over Gonzalez.

Mexico's decision to grant asylum to Glas, a figure associated with the leftist government of ex-president Rafael Correa, exacerbated tensions further.

Political Ramifications and Regional Dynamics

The granting of asylum to Glas underscores Mexico's alignment with Correa's legacy, triggering diplomatic friction with Ecuador's current administration, according to AP News.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's comments about Ecuador's elections and his perceived support for Correa's movement have strained bilateral relations.

This incident reflects broader shifts in Latin American geopolitics, with Mexico's leftist leadership facing challenges in its regional influence.

While Mexico maintains economic ties with the United States, its attempts to assert leftist leadership in Latin America encounter obstacles, particularly amid evolving regional dynamics.

In contrast, leaders like Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have pursued more assertive foreign policies, positioning themselves as influential regional figures.

Lula's international engagements contrast with Lopez Obrador's relatively limited diplomatic initiatives, highlighting Mexico's subdued role in regional geopolitics.

Despite regional ambitions, Lopez Obrador's administration prioritizes maintaining favorable relations with the United States, particularly on migration issues.

This pragmatic approach underscores Mexico's strategic alignment with US interests despite occasional rhetorical gestures towards leftist ideologies.

Mexico's decision to grant asylum to Jorge Glas exacerbates tensions with Ecuador, reflecting broader regional dynamics and Mexico's pragmatic foreign policy approach.

While Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador seeks to assert leftist leadership in Latin America, challenges persist amid shifting regional alliances and priorities, underscoring Mexico's nuanced diplomatic stance.

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Written by: Ross Key

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