Ecuador declares Cuba’s ambassador 'persona non grata,' orders mission to leave the country

Описание: (5 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTOIN SUMMARY:

++ ADDED SHOTS OF MAN BURNING PAPER ON EMBASSY ROOF ++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quito, Ecuador - 04 March 2026
1. Exterior of the Cuban Embassy, Cuban flag on top of the building
2. Cuban flag
3. Man burning bags with paper on embassy roof
4. Various Ecuadorian soldiers outside embassy
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Hector Rodrigez, lawmaker for the Citizen Revolution party:
"I am expressing my absolute solidarity with the Cuban people on behalf of the representatives of the Ecuadorian people. In my case, as an assembly member, I apologize because this is not the sentiment of the Ecuadorian people, it is really the nonsense of a Donald Trump lackey."
6. Ecuadorians supporting Cuba shouting outside the embassy, holding the flags of Cuba and Ecuador, UPSOUND (Spanish); "Support to the Cuban diplomats, Support, Support!"
7. Sign reading (Spanish) "(President Daniel) Noboa represents (Donald) Trump, we represent Ecuador, Long live Cuba!"
8. Vladimir Paguay chanting (Spanish): "Yes to Cuba, no to Yankees! Long live the solidarity between peoples! Long Live!"
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Vladimir Paguay, demonstrator:
"We've just unpleasantly learned that the Cuban ambassador had his credentials suspended. This situation has not happened before with any of the previous far right governments. We are aggrieved between the people we are brothers, we stand in solidarity with each other. This is why members of different organizations came to support the Cuban government and its Cuban Revolution."
10. Paguay and other supporters of the Cuban government leaving roses at the embassy door
11. Supporters of the Cuban government outside the Cuban embassy
STORYLINE:
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Cuban Embassy in Quito, to show solidarity with the Cuban government, after the ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez, and his diplomatic staff were declared “persona non grata” on Wednesday.

"I am expressing my absolute solidarity with the Cuban people on behalf of the representatives of the Ecuadorian people. In my case, as an assembly member, I apologize because this is not the sentiment of the Ecuadorian people, it is really the nonsense of a Donald Trump lackey," said lawmaker for the Citizen Revolution party Hector Rodrigez, one of the protesters outside the Cuban embassy in Quito.

Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave them 48 hours to leave, and said in a statement that the measure was adopted within the framework of international diplomatic law, but didn't say why they were forcing the diplomats to leave.

The Vienna Convention allows countries to declare diplomatic personnel a persona non grata without explanation.

Shortly after the announcement, a man could be seen on the roof of the Cuban Embassy in Quito burning a bag of papers in a oven.

The burning was witnessed by the Associated Press and later posted in a video on social media by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who remarked bluntly: “A paper barbecue.”

Ecuadorian officials did not provide more details on the incident or identify the man.

Cuba's government strongly rejected the move in a statement on Wednesday night, calling it an “unfriendly and unprecedented act that significantly damages the historic relations of friendship and cooperation between both countries."

“This action also demonstrates the contempt of the current government of Ecuador for the diplomatic practices and courtesies observed by the international community,” wrote Cuba's Foreign Ministry.





Since, Trump has placed restrictions of oil sales to Cuba and said the government was “ready to fall.”


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