- Mexico on Saturday cut all diplomatic relations with Ecuador after police stormed its embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas Espinel, who had been residing there since December after requesting political asylum. Breitbart (LR: 5 CP: 3)
- Ecuadorian police broke into the building late on Friday, allegedly knocking Glas to the floor, kicking him "in the head, in the spine, in the legs, [and] the hands," before dragging him out. Associated Press (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- According to Mexico's foreign ministry, the country's diplomatic staff will immediately leave the South American nation. Under international law, diplomatic premises and personnel are generally considered inviolable. CNN (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- The raid occurred just hours after Glas, convicted on bribery and corruption charges, was granted political asylum. On Saturday, he was transferred to a maximum-security prison in the port city of Guayaquil. Time (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Previously, Ecuador had declared the Mexican ambassador "persona non grata," after Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador appeared to cast doubt over the legitimacy of the latest Ecuadorian elections. New York Times (LR: 2 CP: 5)
- Despite political and ideological differences, many governments across Latin America have rallied around Mexico to condemn the embassy raid, with Nicaragua also severing ties with Ecuador. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
Narrative A:
- It's no wonder such widespread outrage erupted over this incident. Ecuador has breached long-established rules on diplomatic immunity with its forces raiding Mexico's embassy in Quito and even injuring staff within the premises. Additionally, this arrest violates the regional 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum.
ASSOCIATED PRESS (LR: 3 CP: 5)
Narrative B:
- Though some may claim that Ecuador has violated international law with this embassy raid and arrest, it's effectively the other way around. It was Mexico that abused its immunities and privileges to illegitimately grant political asylum and provide refuge to a convicted common criminal. The actions taken in Quito were entirely justified.
CUENCAHIGHLIFE
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 90% chance that Ecuador's Pres. Daniel Noboa will remain in office through the end of his term, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)