Mexico Vs. Ecuador Feud: White House Slams Ecuadorian Government Over Raid Vs. Mexico Embassy
More fallout from the controversial raid of the Mexican Embassy in Quito by Ecuadorian police as the White House has stepped in and sided with its largest trading partner, Mexico. The US is also Ecuador's largest trading partner, and this is the latest blow to the Daniel Noboa administration following the controversial raid to arrest former Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas.
The White House condemned Mexico after it released security camera footage of the raid. US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said they had reviewed the footage and that Ecuador's actions were wrong and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
"The Ecuadorian government disregarded its obligations under international law as a host state to respect the inviolability of diplomatic missions and jeopardizes the foundation of basic diplomatic norms and relationships," the US National Security official added. He also confirmed that Washington has asked Ecuador to work with Mexico to find a resolution to the diplomatic dispute, according to Reuters.
Glas, who was convicted of corruption-related crimes in Ecuador, sought refuge in the Mexican Embassy, with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador granting him asylum and asking the Ecuadorian government for safe passage. However, the Noboa government instead raided the Mexican Embassy and arrested Glas on Mexican soil, thereby breaking international laws and treaties.
Ecuador President Daniel Noboa insisted that Mexico granting the fugitive Glas asylum was illegal despite it being agreed upon by all countries in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The former vice president is now being held in a maximum security prison in Ecuador while Mexico says it will file a case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
What Does the Security Footage Released by Mexico Show?
In that footage that led the White House to condemn the Mexico Embassy Raid by Ecuador, Mexico showed that Ecuadorian police were gathering outside the walls of the embassy late at night. It then showed one officer scaling the barrier while holding a gun,
READ MORE: Ecuador Declares Mexico Ambassador Persona Non Grata After Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Comments
The Mexican government also released footage inside the embassy, and they showed the exact moment when police burst through the door and pointed a gun at Mexican diplomat Roberto Canseco, who was attempting to block their path, as this was in violation of international law.
Canseco, who was supposed to have diplomatic immunity, was thrown to the ground outside the embassy. He was still trying to stop Ecuadorian police from getting Glas.
OAS Discussed Ecuador's Mexico Embassy Raid
With international pressure mounting on Ecuador, the country tried to defend its actions during its raid on the Mexican Embassy just to arrest its fugitive former vice president.
Ecuador's Deputy Minister of Human Mobility, Alejandro Dávalos, was in Washington, DC, to talk to the Organization of American States (OAS) to defend its actions to its counterparts in the Americas, claiming that "Glas did not meet the requisites to merit receiving asylum from Mexico and could not be considered politically persecuted."
However, AOS Secretary General Luis Almagro was having none of it and stated that "the use of force, the illegal incursion into a diplomatic mission, nor the detention of an asylee are the peaceful way toward resolution of this situation."
He then added that "Ecuador's actions could not be allowed to set a precedent."
READ MORE: Ecuador Faces More Fallout Over Raid at Mexico Embassy as Political Chaos Erupts
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Tensions rising between Mexico and Ecuador over embassy incident - NBC News
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