Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has strongly criticized the "despicable authoritarian" attack on the Mexican embassy in Quito, Ecuador. The incident involved Ecuadorian security forces raiding the embassy and forcefully removing Jorge Glas, the former vice-president of Ecuador, who had sought refuge there in December, claiming political persecution.

Dramatic images released by Mexican authorities showcase the late-night assault on the embassy's security cameras. The footage reveals black-clad police operatives swarming into the diplomatic building after scaling the outer wall. Inside, tensions escalate as officers point a gun towards Roberto Canseco, the deputy chief of mission, and grapple with the Mexican diplomat. Meanwhile, Glas is forcefully extracted from the premises by four operatives, while Canseco is wrestled to the floor and later pushed outside.

Expressing outrage at the incident, President López Obrador declared during a press conference, "Mexico demands respect." This invasion of the embassy, seen as a violation of international law protecting diplomatic installations, has caused a significant political storm both within Latin America and beyond. Leaders from across the ideological spectrum, including Chile's President Gabriel Boric and UN Secretary General António Guterres, have condemned the breach.

The reaction from the United States also drew criticism from President López Obrador, who expressed disappointment with the "noncommittal" response. The Mexican President noted that President Joe Biden had not directly commented on the incident. In order to denounce Ecuador's "unauthorized and violent break-in" and highlight the mistreatment of Mexican diplomatic staff, Mexico's foreign ministry released the footage to the world. Ministry officials stated their intention to bring these violations of international law to international courts and tribunals with the support of friendly countries.

While Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa defended his decision, explaining that exceptional measures were taken to protect national security, the incident has further escalated tensions between the two nations. As Jorge Glas was transferred to a hospital from the maximum-security prison where he was being held, the situation continues to unfold.

The assault on the Mexican embassy in Quito has triggered widespread condemnation, with calls for respect of international laws safeguarding diplomatic missions. The fallout from this incident may have far-reaching consequences and could impact diplomatic relations not only between Mexico and Ecuador but also between the involved nations and their allies.