Ecuador-Cuba relations sour as diplomats expelled from Quito

Relations between Cuba and Ecuador have deteriorated sharply after the Ecuadorian government ordered the expulsion of the Cuban ambassador and diplomatic staff, forcing the closure of Havana’s embassy in Quito.

The move was announced by the administration of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa , which declared Cuban ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez and other embassy personnel “persona non grata.” They were given 48 hours to leave the country , a step permitted under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that allows nations to expel diplomats without providing a detailed explanation.

Before departing, the Cuban mission lowered its national flag from the embassy building in Quito and formally halted operations. Cuba’s Foreign Ministry described Ecuador’s decision as a “unilateral and unfriendly action,” expressing regret over the sudden breakdown in diplomatic relations.

Shortly before the diplomats left, a man was seen on the roof of the Cuban embassy burning documents, an act widely interpreted as the destruction of sensitive diplomatic materials. President Noboa later shared a video of the incident on social media, referring to it sarcastically as “a paper barbecue.”

While Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry did not publicly state the precise reason for the expulsion, analysts believe the decision may be linked to broader geopolitical tensions in the region. The diplomatic rift has emerged just days before a meeting in Florida between several conservative Latin American leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump , where Noboa is expected to participate.

The development also comes amid growing pressure from Washington on governments maintaining close ties with Cuba, which has long been allied with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro . Rising political friction in Latin America appears to have added strain to already fragile regional relations.

With the embassy now closed, diplomatic engagement between Cuba and Ecuador has effectively been suspended, marking one of the most serious breaks in relations between the two nations in recent years.