México signs agreement with Switzerland to protect diplomatic assets in Ecuador after invasion of the embassy

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland for personnel from that country to protect national assets in Ecuador, after the breakdown in relations between both countries due to the Mexican embassy in Quito.

Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena reported that the agreement was signed by her counterpart Ignazio Cassis. It was made during his visit to Nidwalden, Switzerland, during the Peace Summit.

“Switzerland will protect, represent and exercise our diplomatic and consular functions in said country, after breaking diplomatic relations,” wrote the head of the SRE.

The break between México and Ecuador

México broke relations with Ecuador after the Ecuadorian police raided the Mexican Embassy in Quito on the night of April 5 to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas.

Due to these events, the Mexican government denounced the Ecuadorian before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and pointed out that the South American country violated international law after the violent invasion of its diplomatic headquarters.

México requested that Ecuador be declared to have violated its international obligations, and that Ecuadorian membership in the UN be suspended until that country’s authorities issue a public apology.

The Mexican representation also requested that the Court set as a precedent that a country that acts “as Ecuador did will be expelled from the UN, in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article VI of the Charter of the United Nations.”

For its part, Ecuador assured the ICJ that the invasion of the embassy was an “isolated incident” that occurred in “very exceptional circumstances” and sued México for granting asylum to former vice president Jorge Glas, investigated for corruption, and interfering in internal affairs. .

In May, Ecuador also announced the closure of its consulates in México City (CDMX) and in Monterrey and that the events were an “isolated incident” that occurred in “very exceptional circumstances.”

They also questioned the improper use of the facilities of the Mexican Embassy to protect former Vice President Jorge Glas from justice, in addition to interfering in the country’s internal affairs.