Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld. (Source: Expreso)

On April 5, Ecuadorian security forces raided the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, accused of corruption and currently in exile.

Following the incident, Mexico announced the suspension of diplomatic relations with Ecuador, withdrew all staff from its mission in Quito and planned to file a complaint against the Latin American country with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

AFP reported that in an interview with Teleamazonas television, Foreign Minister Sommerfeld emphasized that Ecuador is ready to "restore relations with Mexico as well as protect the sovereignty of our country."

The diplomat noted that both countries were affected by the raid, but Ecuador “suffered aggressive moves.”

According to her, diplomatic tensions between countries can be resolved “at the negotiating table, where both sides have to tell the truth. Based on that truth, both sides have to start to resolve and restore things.”

Mr. Glas, who was Vice President of Ecuador from 2013 to 2018, was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison for bribery and involvement in the Odebrecht case (Brazil) - a major bribery case that involved many officials in many Latin American countries. He completed only 5 years in prison, was released in 2022 and then was ordered arrested again in December last year.

On December 17, 2023, the former Vice President of Ecuador requested asylum at the Mexican Embassy and remained at the embassy until the raid took place.