Ecuador Defends Actions in Mexican Embassy Raid at the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Accuses Mexico of 'Blatant Interference'

The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Ecuador's raid at the Mexican Embassy, which led to both countries cutting ties with one another, has now started at The Hague, Netherlands. Ecuador told its side of the argument and doubled down that it was within its rights to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, who was hiding inside the Mexican Embassy.

However, the Mexican Embassy in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito is considered Mexican territory. Mexico filed a lawsuit in the ICJ against Ecuador for violating its sovereignty with the raid. Ecuador was also accused of blatantly violating international treaties by storming the embassy just to arrest the former vice president, who was being protected by the Mexican government after giving him asylum.

Currently, Ecuador has found itself alone and without any allies in the international community after its raid on the Mexican Embassy. Leaders all over the Americas, particularly Mexico's North American allies, the United States and Canada, as well as in South America such as Brazil and Venezuela, have all condemned Ecuador's actions.

Despite this, Ecuador is doubling down, with Andres Teran Parral, the leader of Ecuador's legal team, telling the ICJ justices that "Mexico, for months misused its diplomatic premises in Quito to shelter a common criminal." He was referring to former VP Glas.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Celorio Alcantara, legal adviser for Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry, told the ICJ, "There are lines in international law which should not be crossed. Regrettably, the Republic of Ecuador has crossed them."

However, Ecuador argued that the ICJ does not need to act on Mexico's complaint because the Ecuadorian government has already complied with the measures sought by Mexico, with its legal team arguing, "This hearing is unnecessary and unjustified because Ecuador has already provided assurances of its own volition, both to Mexico and to this court, that it will respect and protect the premises of Mexico."

Ecuador Claims Mexico Was 'Blatantly' Interfering With Its Internal Affairs

During the Wednesday hearing, Ecuador blasted Mexico and accused the North American country of "blatant interference" in its internal affairs, according to Reuters.

The hearing is separate from Ecuador's own case that it filed against Mexico. The country argued that Mexico broke international law with its decision to grant asylum to the embattled former vice president. However, it should be noted that it might take years to reach a final judgment in either case.

Mexico Wants ICJ To Decide on Ecuador's Suspension from the United Nations

Former Ecuadorian VP Jorge Glas had been sheltering at the Mexican Embassy since December. Last month, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sought asylum, though just hours later, Ecuadorian special forces and police stormed the embassy to arrest Glas.

This led to Mexico filing its case at the ICJ against Ecuador, wanting the country to be suspended from the United Nations for breaching diplomatic protocols and violating its sovereign grounds.

Mexico accused Ecuador of violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which pertains to the rights of countries establishing their embassies in other countries being "inviolable."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: ICJ LIVE: Mexico takes Ecuador to top UN court over embassy raid - Associated Press