Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has accused Cuban diplomatic staff in Quito of incinerating documents after his administration demanded the Cuban ambassador and the entire embassy staff exit the country within 48 hours.
Various media outlets have shared videos on the platform X, showing embassy personnel setting fire to papers on the diplomatic mission's rooftop.
This accusation comes amidst escalating diplomatic tensions between Quito and Havana, following Ecuador's decision to declare Ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez García and all Cuban diplomatic, consular, and administrative staff as "persona non grata."
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued this declaration, granting a 48-hour deadline for the ambassador and other Cuban officials to leave Ecuadorian soil.
The official statement did not provide specific reasons for the expulsion but referenced the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Political Tensions in Ecuador
Reportedly, following the expulsion order, efforts began at the embassy to destroy archives, with Noboa referring to the event as a “paper barbecue” in the video.
This situation unfolds against a backdrop of internal political division. Former President Rafael Correa criticized the expulsion, initially thinking it was a joke, and insulted Noboa in a post on X.
Coinciding with the expulsion of Cuban staff, Noboa's government also ended the tenure of José María Borja López as Ecuador's ambassador to Cuba, a position he had held since 2021, according to cited information.
Understanding the Diplomatic Conflict Between Ecuador and Cuba
Why were Cuban diplomats expelled from Ecuador?
The Ecuadorian government declared Cuban diplomats persona non grata, referencing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, but did not provide specific reasons for the expulsion.
What was the response from former President Rafael Correa?
Former President Rafael Correa criticized the expulsion of Cuban diplomats, initially believing it was a joke, and expressed his disapproval through insults directed at President Noboa on social media.
How did the Cuban embassy staff react to the expulsion order?
According to reports, Cuban embassy staff in Quito began burning documents on the mission's rooftop following the expulsion order.