Ecuador Expels Cuban Diplomats
Ecuador has declared Cuba's ambassador and diplomatic staff "persona non grata," giving them 48 hours to leave the country. The move marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations and could have broader impacts on regional relations.
The move by President Daniel Noboa's administration coincided with the launch of joint military operations between Ecuador and the United States aimed at combating organized crime. This expulsion is seen by analysts as part of Noboa's broader strategy to deepen security and diplomatic alignment with the U.S. Ecuador's government officially invoked Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which permits a host country to declare diplomatic staff "persona non grata" at any time and without having to explain its decision. Shortly after the announcement, a man was seen burning papers on the roof of the Cuban embassy in Quito, an incident President Noboa highlighted on social media. The economic relationship between the two nations is modest. In 2024, Ecuador's exports to Cuba totaled approximately $5.99 million, with soap being the main product. Conversely, Ecuador imported around $298,000 worth of goods from Cuba, primarily vaccines and other medical supplies. This is the fourth major diplomatic rupture for President Noboa's government in the region, following severed ties with Venezuela, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The expulsion of Cuban diplomats follows a pattern of strained relations, including a 2024 incident where Ecuadorian officials raided the Mexican embassy in Quito, a move
