Cuba terminates diplomatic presence in Ecuador following total expulsion of mission by President Noboa

Cuba abandons its embassy in Quito on March 6 after President Daniel Noboa expels all diplomats, marking a total breakdown in bilateral relations.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 2:52 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from UPI

Abrupt Withdrawal from the Capital

Cuban diplomats formally vacated their embassy compound in Quito on Friday, removing all national symbols and flags in response to an expulsion order from the Ecuadorian government. Local media captured images of vehicles and personnel hastily leaving the premises throughout the morning. The final official to exit the building, believed to be the ambassador, reportedly covered his face to avoid reporters. By 10 a.m. local time, police stationed outside the facility confirmed that the building appeared entirely empty, ending Cuba’s decades-long permanent diplomatic presence in the country.

Unilateral Declaration of Persona Non Grata

The diplomatic crisis was triggered on Wednesday when President Daniel Noboa issued Decree 317, declaring Cuban Ambassador Basilio Gutierrez and twenty two members of the mission persona non grata. The Ecuadorian government provided the diplomatic staff with a 48 hour window to leave the country. Simultaneously, Noboa ordered the immediate withdrawal of Ecuador’s ambassador to Havana, Jose Maria Borja Lopez. This move is seen as part of a broader foreign policy shift by the Noboa administration to realign Ecuador’s international relations away from traditional regional leftist allies.

Allegations of Document Destruction

The tension between the two nations deepened after President Noboa publicly alleged that embassy staff were destroying sensitive documents inside the compound following the delivery of the expulsion order. While no specific evidence was provided by the Ecuadorian presidency during the initial announcement, the claim served to further inflame the rift. Cuban officials have not directly addressed these specific allegations but maintained that their personnel have strictly adhered to international laws and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.