The Mexican and Swiss governments have signed an agreement for the protection and representation of Mexico's interests, including diplomatic and consular functions, in Ecuador following the severance of diplomatic relations between Mexico City and Quito, the Mexican Foreign Ministry has said in a communique.
"On behalf of the Government of Mexico, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena Ibarra signed an agreement with the Government of the Swiss Confederation wherein Switzerland will protect, represent, and carry out the interests and diplomatic and consular functions of Mexico in Ecuador after the break in diplomatic relations," the communique said on Tuesday.
The ministry added that the agreement "aims to safeguard Mexico's interests in Ecuador" and does not "include a request for mediation related to Ecuador's illegal raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, the aggressions committed by Ecuadorian forces against Mexican diplomatic personnel, or the illegal abduction of Jorge David Glas Espinel, who had been granted political asylum by Mexico."
The Mexican government will continue with the ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to "prevent Ecuador's illegal acts from going unpunished and setting a negative precedent," the ministry said.
Mexico responded to April's embassy storm by suspending its diplomatic relations with Ecuador, saying that some Mexican diplomats had been injured as a result of the police raid. On April 11, Mexico also filed a complaint with the ICJ against Ecuador, demanding that Ecuador's membership in the United Nations be suspended and a precedent be set.
Glas served five years in prison for bribery and criminal conspiracy before being released in late 2022. However, already in December 2023, he was sentenced to six more years in prison in a corruption case involving Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, currently known as Novonor. Glas took refuge in the Mexican diplomatic mission in the same month before an official warrant for his arrest was issued. On April 5, Mexico granted Glas political asylum. Ecuador called Mexico's decision illegal and demanded the extradition of the politician.