Relationship dossier
Argentina
Ecuador
Relationship assessment
A diplomatic dispute over asylum and an embassy departure strained Argentina–Ecuador relations in 2023.
Argentina toward Ecuador
-5Argentina granted asylum to former Ecuadorian minister María de los Ángeles Duarte and sheltered her at its embassy in Quito. Her departure from the embassy in 2023 became a source of diplomatic dispute with Ecuador.
Ecuador toward Argentina
-15Ecuador declared Argentina’s ambassador, Gabriel Fuks, persona non grata in 2023 after Duarte left the Argentine embassy in Quito. Argentina recalled its ambassador in response.
Overall relationship
-5The relationship includes Argentina’s grant of asylum to an Ecuadorian former official and a resulting 2023 diplomatic dispute involving the Argentine embassy and reciprocal diplomatic measures. This points to a significant but specific period of tension rather than sustained confrontation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Argentina granted asylum to former Ecuadorian minister María de los Ángeles Duarte, who had taken refuge in Argentina’s embassy in Quito. Her departure from the embassy in 2023 led Ecuador to declare Argentina’s ambassador persona non grata and Argentina to recall its ambassador. These events show a notable diplomatic dispute, but do not establish sustained hostility across the wider relationship.
Areas of tension
- The circumstances of María de los Ángeles Duarte’s departure from Argentina’s embassy in Quito.
- Ecuador’s declaration of Argentina’s ambassador persona non grata and Argentina’s diplomatic response.
Key developments
Argentina granted asylum to former Ecuadorian minister María de los Ángeles Duarte, who took refuge at Argentina’s embassy in Quito.
Ecuador declared Argentina’s ambassador persona non grata after Duarte left the embassy; Argentina recalled its ambassador in response.
Major uncertainties
- The circumstances of Duarte’s departure from the Argentine embassy remain disputed.
- The extent of bilateral cooperation beyond the Duarte dispute is unclear.