Ecuador grants Julian Assange asylum: What will Britain do?
The British government has suggested it might take the drastic step of barging into Ecuador's London embassy to arrest the WikiLeaks leader — and Ecuador's furious

Defying British pressure, Ecuador on Thursday granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been hiding in Ecuador's London embassy for two months to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning on sexual assault charges. Britain says it won't allow Assange safe passage out of the country, and made a thinly veiled threat to revoke the Ecuadorean embassy's diplomatic status so the building would no longer be considered foreign territory, allowing British police to storm in and arrest Assange. Ecuador says it would consider such a move a "hostile and intolerable" violation of its sovereignty. Would the U.K. really take such drastic measures to nab Assange?
The U.K. will let Assange sweat where he is: The last thing the British government wants to do is send police storming into Ecuador's embassy, says Peter Beaumont at Britain's Guardian. That would set a dangerous "international precedent" that some other country could cite to justify invading one of the U.K.'s own embassies abroad. Besides, there's no need: The second Assange steps outside he'll be arrested. "And so Assange stays put for now."
"Julian Assange asylum row puts U.K. in catch-22 situation"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Eventually, Britain might have to charge in: Revoking the diplomatic status of Ecuador's embassy would indeed set "an appalling precedent," says Philip Dorling at The Sydney Morning Herald, "but that step may come." Assange and Ecuador aren't just defying London. They're insulting Sweden, and trying to make sure Assange will never face charges in the U.S. for releasing secret diplomatic cables. "The UK, Sweden and the US may all eventually decide enough is enough."
"The Latin Mouse that roared at the British bulldog"
The U.K. has no option but to wait: The British government doesn't really have much choice, Paul Whiteway, a former British diplomat, tells CNN. The 1987 law allowing the foreign secretary to "end the inviolability" of a foreign embassy is supposed to be "invoked in cases connected to public safety, national security, or town and country planning." Assange doesn't fit the bill. Still, neither side can back down now, so we're looking at a stand-off that could last years.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: which party are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?