In a shocking turn of events, diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador have reached a boiling point following the arrest of Ecuador's former vice president, Jorge Glas, inside the Mexican embassy in Quito. The raid, which took place late Friday, has ignited outrage from leaders across the Americas, prompting Mexico's president to announce the severing of diplomatic ties with Ecuador.

Glas had been convicted of bribery and corruption charges and was under investigation for other potential crimes. However, the manner in which the arrest was carried out has raised eyebrows among international law experts, who have deemed it a violation of long-established international laws that few rulers have dared to breach.

By forcibly entering the Mexican embassy to apprehend Glas, Ecuadorian police effectively intruded upon Mexican sovereign territory, violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. This convention sets clear rules on diplomatic immunity, including the prohibition of authorities from entering embassies by force.

Natalia Saltalamacchia, a professor of international relations at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, emphasized that Ecuador's actions not only infringed upon Mexico's sovereignty but also endangered all embassies worldwide by disregarding established precedent. She warned that such actions could lead to a state of anarchy and lawlessness.

The raid has drawn comparisons to previous instances where embassies were violated. One notable example occurred in 2012 when the British government threatened to raid Ecuador's embassy to apprehend WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange, who sought asylum there. At the time, Ecuador condemned such threats, deeming them clear breaches of international law and the protocols outlined in the Vienna Convention.

Instances of actual embassy violations have been relatively rare in recent decades. Saltalamacchia highlighted the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979, where American diplomats were held captive for 444 days, as well as a raid on Ecuador's embassy by Cuban forces in 1981. The Organization of American States (OAS) has likened the embassy break-in to a 2022 incident when Nicaraguan authorities unlawfully occupied their own offices in Managua.

The OAS has called for a meeting to discuss the Ecuadorian incident, emphasizing the need to address the breach of international law and the implications it has for diplomatic relations in the region.

While the arrest of Glas may have been a violation of the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, which allows individuals to seek refuge in embassies, some have defended Ecuador's actions. Former Ecuadorian ambassador Jorge Icaza acknowledged the illegality of entering the embassy but argued that it was improper to protect a criminal sanctioned by Ecuador's justice system.

As the crisis deepens, both Mexico and Ecuador have exchanged allegations, with Ecuador accusing Mexico of abusing immunities and privileges granted to the diplomatic mission and granting diplomatic asylum contrary to international legal frameworks.

The fallout from this embassy raid underscores the importance of preserving diplomatic immunity and adherence to international law to ensure the smooth functioning of embassies and enable diplomats to carry out their official missions without fear of retaliation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate nature of international relations and the repercussions that can arise from breaches of established protocols.