Ecuador Declares Cuban Ambassador Persona Non Grata Amid Diplomatic Dispute

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador declared Cuba's ambassador, Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez, and his diplomatic staff "persona non grata" on Wednesday, giving them 48 hours to depart the South American country. Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the measure was taken in accordance with international diplomatic law, but did not explain why the ambassadors were being forced to leave. The Vienna Convention enables governments to declare diplomatic persons persona non grata without reason.

Shortly after the statement, a guy was seen on the roof of the Cuban Embassy in Quito, burning a sack of papers in an oven. The Associated Press saw the burning, which Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa later uploaded in a video on social media, remarking bluntly, "A paper barbecue." Ecuadorian officials did not disclose any information about the incident or name the man.

Cuba's government harshly condemned the action in a statement issued Wednesday night, describing it as a "unfriendly and unprecedented act that significantly damages the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between both countries." "This action also demonstrates the contempt of the current government of Ecuador for the diplomatic practices and courtesies observed by the international community," according to the Cuban Foreign Ministry.

Diplomatic Decisions and Political Context

On Tuesday, Noboa issued an executive order canceling Ecuador's ambassador to Cuba, José María Borja, without explanation. The same day, the United States and Ecuador declared the start of cooperative military operations against organized crime gangs in the Andes. Following a recent rise in armed group violence, Noboa has sought to frame himself as a tough-on-crime leader.

The move comes as US President Donald Trump increases pressure on Cuba, which has escalated since a US military operation toppled former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Since then, Trump has imposed limits on oil sales to Cuba and declared the government "ready to fall." Ecuador is a key ally and collaborator of the Trump administration in combating regional drug trafficking and organized crime.

In a post on X, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that Ecuador's expulsion of Cuba's diplomatic staff coincided with the US's pressure on Cuba and other governments in the region, as well as the upcoming meeting of right-wing Latin American leaders in Miami, which Noboa is scheduled to attend.

Historical Relations and Regional Diplomatic Tensions

Ecuador and Cuba have had bilateral relations since 1960, which have fluctuated with changes in Ecuadorian politics. Andrea Endara, Casa Grande University's coordinator of Political Science and International Relations, stated that Wednesday's decision includes a "ideological component." She claimed that Noboa "has aligned himself with the interests of the United States."

The effective expulsion of Cuban personnel comes after a series of diplomatic incidents between Ecuador and other Latin American countries in recent years. In 2024, Ecuadorian officials raided the Mexican embassy to apprehend the former vice president who was taking refuge there. Experts stated this was a clear violation of international law, prompting Mexico to cut off relations.

More recently, a trade war has erupted between Ecuador and neighboring Colombia, with Noboa's administration accusing the latter of not doing enough to combat crime on their shared border. These episodes point to a pattern of rising diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and other countries in the area.