Unraveling diplomatic challenges: Assessing the latest turbulence in Latin America

By Grecia Pillaca Burga, Student Life Editor of The Graduate Press and LANI Board Member

At first glance, Latin America and the Caribbean might seem like a region free from the turmoil of open armed conflicts between nations. Yet, beneath this façade of tranquillity lies a stark reality. According to a World Bank study, Latin America and the Caribbeans are one of the most violent regions in the world, and violence continues to increase along with high levels of inequality.

This serious context is compounded by the current diplomatic crisis in the region, which threatens to destabilize the region and exacerbate social and economic problems. Tensions between neighbouring countries and internal frictions are creating an atmosphere of uncertainty that requires urgent attention and effective diplomatic solutions. The following is a brief overview of some of the major recent developments in the region.

1. Diplomatic rifts

• Ecuador and Mexico

On April 5^th, the Ecuadorian police decide to trespass and intervene inside the Mexican embassy in Quito, to forcibly remove former Vice President Jorge Glas[1]. The Ecuadorian government breached critical red lines by violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, which are fundamental pillars of inter-American law.

In response, Mexico severed diplomatic ties and filed a case with the International Court of Justice, citing the violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions. Mexico also called for the suspension of Ecuador from the United Nations and, if proven that the foundational charter was breached, its expulsion. The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) also condemned Quito’s actions.

• Peru and Mexico

The diplomatic crisis between Peru and Mexico arose in the context of the political turmoil in Peru, especially with the impeachment and arrest of former president Pedro Castillo in December 2022. Castillo was accused of attempting a self-coup, which led to his arrest and subsequent replacement by then vice-president Dina Boluarte. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) openly expressed his support for Pedro Castillo and criticised Dina Boluarte’s administration, calling her government illegitimate. AMLO has stated that he considers Castillo a legitimate president who was unjustly removed from office. In addition, Mexico granted political asylum to Castillo’s family, further increasing tensions.

In response to Mexico’s statements and actions, the Peruvian government declared the Mexican president and the Mexican ambassador in Lima persona non grata, demanding the ambassador’s departure from the country. Peru also withdrew its ambassador from Mexico, reducing diplomatic relations between the two states to the level of chargé d’affaires. On Mexico’s side, it decided to deny transferring the presidency of the “Alianza del Pacífico” (a regional integration mechanism that both countries share along with Colombia and Chile) to Peru. Additionally, as of April 20 this year, Mexico will require a visa for Peruvians wishing to enter the country, revoking an exemption that had been in place for a decade, thereby exacerbating diplomatic tensions.

• Chile and Venezuela

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has a notably strained relationship with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro among the region’s progressive leaders. Chile’s Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, recently described the deteriorating situation: “We’ve been trying to foster a positive political climate for months, but things have dramatically worsened in recent weeks”.Tensions escalated when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil dismissed the Tren de Aragua criminal network as a “fiction created by the international media.” In response, Boric recalled Ambassador Jaime Gazmuri from Venezuela, marking the first time Chile had an ambassador in Caracas since 2018. This incident sparked a broader crisis, further exacerbated by the abduction and murder of Venezuelan opposition leader Ronald Ojeda, who had asylum in Chile, which appeared to be a political assassination.

2. Verbal encounters

Diplomacy, both formal and virtual, has been the scene of tensions between Latin American leaders in recent episodes. On the one hand, the verbal confrontation between Argentine President Milei and Colombian President Petro triggered an unusually tense situation, resulting in the announcement of the expulsion of the Argentine diplomatic corps in Colombia. However, the foreign ministries of both countries managed to calm the situation. Similarly, another intervention by Milei also generated controversy when he called Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador “ignorant”, who responded by saying “I still don’t understand how the Argentines, being so intelligent elected someone like Milei”. Despite these altercations, once again the role of both foreign ministries was an opportunity to avoid the escalation of tensions.

In Brazil, diplomacy was challenged even before Milei took office. While drawing up the guest list for his inauguration ceremony on 10 December, Milei extended an invitation to former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, with whom he shares ideological affinity. However, he also reluctantly invited Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom he has described as “corrupt” and “communist”. Unsurprisingly, Lula declined the invitation, highlighting the political tensions in the region.

The Colombian president has also used social media to criticise El Salvador’s prison system, which has generated both national and international recognition for President Bukele. For his part, President Bukele has used social media to defend his position and criticise the policies of other countries, which has strengthened his image both locally and internationally. These events underline the importance of diplomacy in the management of international relations and how the actions and words of political leaders can influence these dynamics.

3. Territorial issues

Although the Latin-American states have a tradition of settling their territorial disputes at International Courts[2], there is one particular case that is raising tensions in the region and this is the longstanding dispute over the Essequibo, spanning nearly 62,000 square miles and known for its mineral wealth, has persisted for over two centuries. This is a conflict that awaits the resolution at the International Court of Justice since 2018. Nonetheless, the Essequibo issue has intermittently featured in Venezuela’s political discourse for years, and Maduro brought it to the forefront ahead of the July 28 presidential elections. He initiated a referendum to annex the territory, appointed regional authorities, and officially altered Venezuela’s maps to incorporate Essequibo. This sparked military mobilizations and heightened diplomatic exchanges between Venezuela and Guyana, prompting concern among regional leaders and calls for mediation.

Diplomacy in Latin America faces considerable challenges, but it also could forge a path towards stability and co-development. This requires political will, cooperation and a renewed focus on regional integration that can overcome historical barriers and national interests in favour of collective well-being.

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[1] Jorge Glas, associated with the Rafael Correa administration, had taken refuge in the Mexican Embassy since December. Despite contentious interactions between the two nations, Mexico formally granted Glas asylum and requested his safe passage out of Ecuador. Ecuador’s President Noboa defended the decision to breach the embassy in an interview on April 15, even suggesting a friendly discussion with Mexican President López Obrador.

[2] Cases with resolution at ICJ: Nicaragua and Colombia (2012) Perú and Chile (2014), Nicaragua and Costa Rica (2015), Bolivia and Chile (2018).