Ecuador expels Cuban diplomatic staff and withdraws its ambassador in Havana

Quito.- The Government of Ecuador expelled this Wednesday all diplomatic personnel from Cuba accredited in the Andean country, including its ambassador, Basilio Gutiérrez, and also proceeded to withdraw its ambassador in Havana, which implies the breaking of diplomatic relations with the island.

In a statement, Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed that all personnel of the island’s diplomatic mission accredited in Quito have been declared persona non grata and have 48 hours to leave the country. The Executive of right-wing President Daniel Noboa argued this announcement based on Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In turn, Noboa ordered the return of the Ecuadorian ambassador in Havana, José María Borja, who had held the role since 2021, also serving in Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.

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The decree is based on the provisions of Article 141 of the Constitution, which states that the president exercises the executive function and is head of State and Government, and mentions that Article 147 enables him to appoint and remove public officials.

The Context of the Breakup between Ecuador and Cuba

These decisions by Noboa come just days before he travels to the United States to participate in a summit of presidents of Latin American countries with Donald Trump, with whom the Ecuadorian Administration has strengthened ties and supported in its foreign policy, such as with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Thus, Noboa opens a new diplomatic crisis with another Latin American country after already having broken relations with Venezuela, Mexico, and Nicaragua following the capture of former “correísta” Vice President Jorge Glas in an assault on the Mexican Embassy, when he had already received diplomatic asylum.