In an unprecedented move, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador swiftly severed diplomatic relations with Ecuador after police forcefully entered the Mexican Embassy in Quito to apprehend former vice president Jorge Glas. Glas had sought political asylum at the embassy following his indictment on corruption charges.

The Ecuadorian police broke through the embassy's external doors and entered the main patio to seize Glas, prompting condemnation from Mexican officials. Roberto Canseco, head of the Mexican consular section in Quito, expressed concern for Glas's safety, criticizing the raid as "totally outside the norm."

Glas had already been convicted of bribery and corruption charges, with Ecuadorian authorities continuing their investigation into further allegations against him. Ecuador's presidency defended the police operation, stating, "Ecuador is a sovereign nation and we are not going to allow any criminal to stay free."

However, López Obrador viewed the detention of Glas as an "authoritarian act" and a "flagrant violation of international law and the sovereignty of Mexico." Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations, Alicia Bárcena, condemned the breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and revealed that several diplomats had sustained injuries during the incident.

Under the Vienna treaties, diplomatic premises are deemed "inviolable," and local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from entering without the ambassador's permission. The case drew comparisons to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's seven-year stay in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where British police were unable to arrest him.

Bárcena announced that Mexico plans to take the matter to the International Court of Justice to hold Ecuador accountable for violating international law. She also stated that Mexican diplomats were awaiting guarantees from the Ecuadorian government for their safe return.

Both Ecuador's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Interior have yet to respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, the Mexican Embassy in Quito remains heavily guarded by the police.

Tensions between Mexico and Ecuador escalated further prior to the embassy incident when Mexico's president made statements about Ecuador's last year's election, which the Ecuadorian government deemed "very unfortunate." In response, Ecuador declared the Mexican ambassador persona non grata.

The arrest of Glas and subsequent diplomatic fallout between Mexico and Ecuador have raised concerns about international law and the sanctity of diplomatic missions. As the situation unfolds, observers await further developments and potential repercussions on bilateral relations between the two countries.