The government of Ecuador has declared Cuban Ambassador Basilio Gutierrez and his diplomatic staff "persona non grata," ordering them to leave the country. The nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has granted the diplomats 48 hours to depart from the territory.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Reuters news agency has released information regarding the diplomatic move. According to the reports, the decision was made under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows a host state to declare any member of a diplomatic mission unwelcome without explaining its decision.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the move, labeling the decision "arbitrary and groundless." Official Havana considers this an "unfriendly and unprecedented act" that undermines the historical ties between the two nations. Cuban officials suggested that the expulsion might be linked to "US pressure" ahead of a summit scheduled for March 7 and 8 in Miami, which is expected to be attended by representatives from 12 Latin American countries, including US President Donald Trump.
According to Reuters sources, Ecuadorian police and military personnel are currently patrolling the vicinity of the Cuban embassy in Quito. While Ecuador has not yet clarified whether the expulsion signifies a complete severance of diplomatic relations, the atmosphere in the capital remains tense. This development follows a period of shifting geopolitical alliances in the region, as several Latin American nations recalibrate their foreign policies in alignment with broader international security and economic frameworks.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is the international treaty that defines the framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. Article 9 specifically permits a receiving state to notify the sending state that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff is no longer welcome, a tool frequently used during periods of heightened bilateral friction or suspected interference in domestic affairs.
