CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday ordered the closure of his country’s embassy and consulates in Ecuador in solidarity with Mexico to protest a raid by Ecuadorian authorities on the Mexican embassy in Quito.
Venezuela also “fully supports” Mexico’s request for the United Nations to suspend Ecuador from the world body, Maduro said during a virtual meeting of leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa ordered authorities on April 5 to raid the Mexican diplomatic post to arrest the country’s former vice president, Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive who had been holed up at the embassy since December locked up. Mexico granted him asylum hours before the raid.
The extremely unusual use of force drew immediate condemnation from governments around the world. Diplomatic buildings are considered foreign territory and are “inviolable” according to the Vienna Convention.
Noboa has said he authorized the raid “to protect national security.” He argued that Glas was wanted because of his criminal convictions for corruption and not for political reasons, and accused Mexico of violating the Vienna Conventions by granting asylum to someone convicted of “very serious crimes.” .”
Mexico expressed outrage over the raid and has asked the United Nations to suspend Ecuador until the country apologizes for the breach and agrees to pay reparations.
Maduro said he has sent all diplomatic staff back to Venezuela “until international law is expressly restored in Ecuador.”
“Venezuela fully supports Mexico’s proposal to expel Ecuador from the United Nations organization until it apologizes to the international community and restores the situation to its original legal status,” Maduro said.
Maduro said Glas “should be returned to the Mexican embassy and his political asylum recognized.”
