HAVANA/QUITO - The Cuban embassy in Quito has ceased operations, following Ecuador's directive to expel all Cuban diplomatic personnel. The measure, formalized through official decrees, saw the withdrawal of Ambassador Basilio Gutiérrez and twenty-two other mission members. Cuba responded by shuttering its embassy, removing national symbols, and recalling its own ambassador from Ecuador.
The Ecuadorian government declared the Cuban ambassador and the entirety of the diplomatic, consular, and administrative staff "persona non grata," affording them a 48-hour window to depart the country. This declaration, while citing adherence to international diplomatic law, offered no explicit justification for the expulsion. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the measure was taken "within the framework of international diplomatic law."
The fallout resulted in the formal withdrawal of Ecuador's ambassador to Cuba, José María Borja López, effectively ending his diplomatic tenure in Havana. Local reports noted a visible Ecuadorian military presence around the Cuban embassy as diplomatic staff completed their withdrawal.
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Diplomatic Severance
The expulsion initiative was reportedly spearheaded by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Following the notification, Cuban officials moved swiftly to remove all official symbols and flags from the embassy premises. The Cuban foreign ministry confirmed the immediate removal of all national symbols from the building. The diplomatic crisis appears to have been solidified by Ecuador's Decree 317, which also sanctioned the withdrawal of Ecuador's envoy to Cuba.
The Cuban government issued a strong rejection of Ecuador's decision, though details of this response remain scant in publicly available information. The Cuban government strongly rejected the decision of its Ecuadorian counterpart in a statement. Conversely, Ecuador's Foreign Ministry has not issued a comprehensive statement detailing the specific reasons behind the expulsion.
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International Context
This diplomatic rupture occurs just prior to a planned meeting in Florida between US President Donald Trump and several conservative Latin American leaders, including Noboa. The implications of this severed diplomatic link on regional dynamics remain unarticulated. The Vienna Convention allows for such declarations of 'persona non grata' without requiring official explanation from the host nation.