On Wednesday, Ecuadorian authorities deployed military forces around the Cuban Embassy in Quito after President Daniel Noboa's administration declared the Cuban ambassador and all diplomatic staff from the mission as persona non grata.
Radio Pichincha reported on social media about the military activity outside the diplomatic premises, highlighting the growing tension due to Ecuador's official decision.
An hour ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility notified the Cuban embassy through a diplomatic note dated March 4, 2026. The note stated that Ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez García and all accredited diplomatic, consular, and administrative officials must leave Ecuadorian territory within 48 hours.
This action is based on Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which authorizes a state to declare members of a diplomatic mission as persona non grata.
Simultaneously, President Daniel Noboa signed an executive decree terminating the duties of Ecuador's ambassador to Cuba, José María Borja López, effectively severing the current level of diplomatic representation between the two nations.
According to reports from Prensa Latina and Ecuadorian outlet Periodismo EC, the Ecuadorian foreign ministry has announced plans to provide further details about this decision later in the day.
Details on Ecuador's Diplomatic Actions
What prompted Ecuador to expel the Cuban diplomatic mission?
Ecuador's decision to declare the Cuban ambassador and diplomatic staff as persona non grata stems from political tensions and is supported by Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
How long does the Cuban diplomatic mission have to leave Ecuador?
The Cuban diplomatic mission has been given a 48-hour timeframe to vacate Ecuador following the notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What are the implications of the executive decree signed by President Noboa?
President Noboa's executive decree ends the functions of Ecuador's ambassador to Cuba, signaling a breakdown in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.