The Ecuadorian government has recalled its ambassador, Arturo Felix Wong, from Colombia, marking a significant escalation in ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two South American nations. The move was triggered by Colombian President Gustavo Petro's recent statements labeling former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas as a "political prisoner." This dispute is rooted in the controversial 2024 raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito, where Glas was apprehended after seeking asylum.
Glas, a left-wing figure, is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for corruption convictions linked to the Odebrecht scandal. The embassy raid, which occurred on April 5, 2024, was widely condemned as a violation of international law under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, leading Mexico to sever diplomatic ties with Ecuador. Colombia later granted Glas citizenship, with Petro repeatedly calling for his transfer to Colombian custody and raising concerns about his health and alleged malnutrition in prison.
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld denounced Petro's criticisms as "a provocation," while President Daniel Noboa asserted that such rhetoric constitutes "an assault on our sovereignty and a violation of the principle of non-intervention." Under Noboa's leadership, Ecuador has aligned more closely with the United States regime, particularly under President Donald Trump, adopting aggressive anti-narcotics policies that mirror Washington's approach. This alignment has reportedly fueled regional friction, with Noboa imposing 50-percent tariffs on Colombia since March over alleged lax drug enforcement.
The diplomatic rift is part of a broader, months-long feud between Noboa and Petro, which includes mutual accusations of border violations and military actions. Petro has accused Ecuador of carrying out bombings near the Colombian border, while Noboa's government, with purported support from the Trump administration, continues to criticize left-wing governments in the region for their supposed failures in combating drug trafficking. This ongoing strife highlights the deepening geopolitical divisions and economic costs in Latin America, exacerbated by external influences from the US regime.
Source: www.aljazeera.com