Presidents of Ecuador and Argentina announce normalization of diplomatic relations

( Spanish) — During the summit of the European Union with the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in Brussels, the presidents of Ecuador and Argentina announced the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

After a meeting in which they shook hands again, the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, was the first to announce on his Twitter account that the two countries resume relations at the ambassadorial level.

“It is very important to have normalized diplomatic relations with the appointment of new ambassadors in Quito and in Buenos Aires. The brotherhood that unites our peoples is historic and we must continue to strengthen it,” said Fernández.

Hours later, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, he pointed that both governments have begun to designate their new ambassadors.

“Ecuador and Argentina will continue to strengthen their cooperation ties, especially in trade. In turn, we reestablished diplomatic relations with the appointment of new ambassadors in both countries,” Lasso said.

Diplomatic tensions between Ecuador and Argentina reached a fever pitch at the beginning of this year after a series of reactions, exchanges of letters and episodes that date back to 2020, after a corruption sentence against several officials of the government of Rafael Correa. Among them is the former minister María de Los Ángeles Duarte, who was taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Quito and fled from there unexpectedly in mid-March, after Ecuador refused to issue her a safe-conduct for upholding a sentence for corruption.

The events led to the mutual expulsion of ambassadors and accusations between both governments.

Almost four months after the conflict, the two governments are resuming relations at the diplomatic level.