President Claudia Sheinbaum, in a morning conference on Wednesday, April 16, announced Mexico's decision not to resume relations with Ecuador while Daniel Noboa serves as president. This determination is based on the consideration that Noboa's re-election is 'doubtful,' citing a report from the Organization of American States that questions the legitimacy of his victory in last Sunday's election.
Sheinbaum highlighted that other regional leaders such as Colombian President Gustavo Petro have expressed doubts about the transparency of the elections in Ecuador. Although the opposing candidate, Luisa González, alleges fraud, Noboa received 55.6% of the votes compared to González's 44.4%. These circumstances have led Mexico to maintain its stance of not resuming diplomatic relations with the South American country.
Professor José Joel Peña, an international relations specialist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, commented that Sheinbaum's statements complicate the already delicate diplomatic situation between the two countries even further. The breakdown of relations between Mexico and Ecuador dates back to an incident in 2024 when the Ecuadorian Police stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, accused of corruption.
Peña suggested that Sheinbaum's actions could generate additional tensions and raise questions about Mexican foreign policy and its coherence in the regional context. Furthermore, he pointed out that such pronouncements could affect Mexico's ability to exercise constructive regional leadership.
For their part, opposition politicians in Mexico have expressed divided opinions regarding Sheinbaum's stance. Some support her decision, arguing that it defends national dignity in the face of grievances suffered, while others criticize her for recognizing Nicolás Maduro's re-election in Venezuela last year. These opposing positions reflect the political complexity in Mexico regarding foreign relations and positioning in response to similar situations in the region.
