Ecuadorians

• Ecuador’s security forces recently conducted a raid on the Mexican embassy in the country’s capital city, Quito.
• Against the backdrop of rampant narco-terrorism and escalating regional tensions, concerns have been raised about Ecuador’s respect for these fundamental principles.
• The police raid on April 5 has drawn widespread criticism targeting Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa.
• The country’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, condemned what it called the “despicable authoritarian” raid which is declared to be in violation of international law.

A political raid

• To an extent the raid on the Mexican embassy is bound up with the Ecuadorian government’s aggressive approach to the country’s problems with drugs and gang violence.
• Noboa’s initially high approval ratings have been falling thanks to the public perception that his hardline policies have done little to address the issue.
• But Noboa’s referendum appears to serve a dual political purpose.

Sovereignty and security

• So the raid on the Mexican embassy has raised doubts in many people’s minds as to whether a government with apparently scant regard for international law can be trusted not to abuse its new security laws.
• The importance of Mexico’s relationship with Ecuador is central to addressing the mobility crisis in the region.
• To protect people’s security in the region, diplomatic collaboration between countries such as Ecuador and Mexico is vital.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.