The Cuban government has closed its embassy in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito after being given a 48-hour deadline to withdraw its diplomatic personnel. In a communique published on Friday, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) criticized the ultimatum as unfair and denounced the expulsion decision, stating it "undermines the spirit of respect and cooperation that has historically characterized bilateral relations between the two countries."
The communique confirmed that the Quito embassy ceased operations at 10:00 AM local time (15:00 GMT). This closure marks an abrupt fracture in diplomatic ties between Cuba and Ecuador, coinciding with right-wing President Daniel Noboa's hardline stance against left-wing governments in the region.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticized Noboa's government on social media for "unjustified, hostile, and unfriendly actions" toward the diplomatic mission, but added that the Ecuadorian people "can always count on Cuba's affection and support." He further asserted that Cuba would continue to advocate for "the preservation of Latin American unity," despite Ecuador's "clear policy of submitting to imperial interests."
These remarks appear to reference the tightening relations between Noboa and United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to see Cuba's communist government fall. Noboa has forged close ties with the Trump regime, announcing a joint anti-cartel operation with the U.S. this week and traveling to Florida for a "Shield of the Americas" summit with Trump and other right-wing leaders.
The Trump administration's policies in Latin America, including a full trade embargo on Cuba and threats of an oil blockade, are exacerbating regional tensions. The United Nations has warned that Cuba's economy, weakened by the embargo and cut off from oil supplies, could be on the precipice of humanitarian "collapse." Noboa's decision to expel Cuban diplomats aligns with the Trump regime's push to further isolate the island from other countries in the region.
Source: www.aljazeera.com