Ecuador Sues Mexico at ICJ Over Asylum of Ex-VP Jorge Glas

Ecuador has filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Mexico, alleging that Mexico's decision to grant political asylum to former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas was illegal. The move comes after Ecuador's highly criticized raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito on April 5, 2024, where Glas was arrested despite pending corruption charges in Ecuador.

Ecuador claims that Glas was a fugitive wanted on corruption convictions and was not eligible for Mexico's diplomatic protection. The lawsuit argues that Mexico violated international law by interfering in Ecuador's internal affairs and improperly granting Glas political asylum. Ecuador's complaint also mentions "insulting" statements made by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador about election violence in Ecuador.

Mexico has filed its own complaint with the ICJ, alleging that Ecuador's raid on the embassy to arrest Glas was illegal. Mexico is seeking reparations and Ecuador's suspension from the United Nations. The court is set to hold hearings on Mexico's case starting on Tuesday.

Why this matters: The diplomatic dispute between Ecuador and Mexico over Glas' asylum has escalated into a major international legal battle. The outcome of the ICJ cases could set important precedents regarding the limits of political asylum and the inviolability of diplomatic missions.

The diplomatic quarrel has intensified, with Mexico recalling its diplomatic staff and closing its embassy and consulates in Ecuador. An Ecuadorian tribunal has ruled that Glas' arrest was illegal, but he must remain in jail due to his previous convictions. The ICJ will hold emergency measures hearings on the matter this week, but the cases typically take years to be heard on the merits, and the ICJ has no means to enforce its rulings.

The ICJ has jurisdiction over this dispute under the 1948 American Treaty on Pacific Settlement (Pact of Bogotá), to which both Ecuador and Mexico are parties. Ecuador argues that Mexico's conduct obstructed the proper administration of justice in Ecuador and violated several international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Convention on Political Asylum, the Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, and the UN Convention against Corruption.

Key Takeaways

• Ecuador sues Mexico at ICJ over granting asylum to former VP Jorge Glas.
• Mexico files counter-complaint, alleging Ecuador's embassy raid was illegal.
• Dispute centers on limits of political asylum and diplomatic mission inviolability.
• ICJ to hold hearings, but rulings not enforceable; cases may take years.
• Diplomatic relations strained, with embassy closures and accusations of violations.