Ecuador Sues Mexico Over Asylum Dispute, Escalating UN Court Battle

Ecuador has filed a counterclaim against Mexico at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of illegally granting political asylum to a former Ecuadorian vice president. The move intensifies a diplomatic feud between the two countries following Ecuador's controversial embassy raid to arrest the fugitive.

Ecuador has escalated its diplomatic dispute with Mexico by filing a counterclaim at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The complaint accuses Mexico of violating international law by granting political asylum to former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who was wanted for corruption convictions.

The counterclaim, filed on Monday, comes in response to Mexico's own complaint against Ecuador, alleging that the embassy raid on April 5 to arrest Glas was illegal. Ecuador maintains that Glas was a fugitive on criminal charges and not entitled to diplomatic protection.

The ICJ, headquartered in the Netherlands, is the United Nations' highest court and adjudicated disputes between sovereign states. Ecuador's counterclaim intensifies the high-profile diplomatic quarrel between the two countries.

Mexico granted Glas asylum in December, allowing him to live at the Mexican embassy in Quito. Ecuadorian authorities forcibly entered the embassy hours later and arrested Glas, sparking outrage in Mexico and leading to diplomatic relations being severed.

Ecuador argues that Glas was convicted of corruption in competent Ecuadorian courts and that Mexico's asylum grant was unlawful. Mexico, on the other hand, maintains that Glas is a political prisoner and that Ecuador's raid violated diplomatic immunity.

Security camera footage released by Mexico shows Ecuadorian police forcibly entering the embassy and detaining Mexico's consular affairs chief in Ecuador, Roberto Canseco. The Vienna treaties and host country law enforcement agencies prohibit entry into diplomatic premises without the ambassador's permission.

The diplomatic fallout has been swift and significant. Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro ordered the closure of his country's embassy and consulates in Ecuador in solidarity with Mexico. Several Latin American presidents and diplomats condemned Ecuador's actions.

Mexico's case against Ecuador at the ICJ is scheduled for hearings on Tuesday. In its complaint, Mexico seeks an order from the court to protect its diplomatic premises and allow the removal of diplomats and belongings. It also seeks reparations and Ecuador's suspension from the United Nations.

The ICJ's rulings are considered legally binding on member states. The outcome of the court's deliberations is likely to have significant implications for the future of Ecuador-Mexico relations and for the interpretation of diplomatic immunity.

The ongoing legal battle at the ICJ reflects the complex and contentious nature of the Ecuador-Mexico asylum dispute. The court's eventual decision will be closely watched by the international community and may set an important precedent for future cases involving diplomatic asylum.