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Cuba has shuttered its embassy in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, after it was given 48 hours to withdraw its diplomatic personnel.<\/p>\n
In a communique published on Friday, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known by the acronym Minrex, criticised the 48-hour deadline as unfair and denounced the decision to expel its diplomats.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n \u201cThe Cuban government deeply regrets the unilateral and unfriendly action of the Ecuadorian government, which undermines the spirit of respect and cooperation that has historically characterised bilateral relations between the two countries,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/p>\n The communique confirmed that the Quito embassy ceased operations at 10am local time (15:00 GMT).<\/p>\n The closure marks an abrupt fracture in diplomatic relations between Cuba and Ecuador, as right-wing President Daniel Noboa takes a hardline stance on left-wing governments in the region.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, in a letter to the Cuban embassy, Noboa\u2019s government declared all Cuban diplomatic and consular personnel in Ecuador persona non grata.<\/p>\n The letter explained that the \u201cgovernment of Ecuador grants a period of 48 hours\u201d for Cuban Ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutierrez Garcia and his colleagues to leave the South American country.<\/p>\n It included no explanation for the sudden request.<\/p>\n The Cuban government, however, responded to the demand with outrage, though it ultimately complied.<\/p>\n On social media, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel criticised Noboa\u2019s government, though he added that the Ecuadorian people \u201ccan always count on Cuba\u2019s affection and support\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe reject the unjustified, hostile, and unfriendly actions of the Ecuadorian government toward our diplomatic mission accredited to that nation,\u201d Diaz-Canel wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis unprecedented action damages the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between our peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that Cuba would continue to rally for \u201cthe preservation of Latin American unity\u201d, despite Ecuador\u2019s \u201cclear policy of submitting to imperial interests\u201d.<\/p>\n The remarks seem to be a reference to the tightening relations between Noboa and United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to see Cuba\u2019s communist government fall.<\/p>\n Just this week, Trump told the news outlet CNN that he planned to focus on regime change in Havana after he closes his current war with Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cCuba is going to fall too. They want to make a deal so badly,\u201d Trump told CNN host Dana Bash.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really focused on this one right now,\u201d he said of Iran. \u201cWe\u2019ve got plenty of time, but Cuba\u2019s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n In late February, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn that it was possible the US could \u201cend up having a friendly takeover of Cuba\u201d, though it was unclear what that might look like.<\/p>\n He has also signalled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio \u2014 a Cuban American who has been hawkish against Havana\u2019s government \u2014 would lead efforts to transform the leadership on the Caribbean island.<\/p>\n Noboa has forged tight relations with Trump. Just this week, his government announced a joint operation with the US government to combat cartels in Ecuador, part of a widening anti-drug campaign under Trump.<\/p>\n And this weekend, Noboa is travelling to South Florida to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, along with other right-wing Latin American leaders. They have called their meeting the \u201cShield of the Americas\u201d summit.<\/p>\n Already, Trump has launched deadly military operations in several parts of Latin America and threatened further involvement in countries like Mexico and Cuba.<\/p>\n Since September, the US has conducted at least 44 air strikes on boats and maritime vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, accusing them of smuggling drugs, though no public evidence has been produced to justify that assertion.<\/p>\n In January, Trump also authorised an attack on Venezuela to abduct its leader at the time, President Nicolas Maduro, and transport him to the US to face drug-trafficking charges.<\/p>\n As part of his national security strategy, Trump has argued that the US should \u201crestore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere\u201d.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
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