This article describes the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Ecuador.
Ecuador is a founding member of the UN and a member of many of its specialized agencies; it is also a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as many regional groups, including the Rio Group, the Latin American Economic System, the Latin American Energy Organization, the Latin American Integration Association, and the Andean Pact.
Ecuador's principal foreign-policy objectives have traditionally included defense of its territory from both external aggression and internal subversion as well as support for the objectives of the UN and the OAS. Although Ecuador's foreign relations were traditionally centered on the United States, Ecuador's membership in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in the 1970s and 1980s allowed Ecuadorian leaders to exercise somewhat greater foreign policy autonomy. Ecuador's foreign policy goals under the Borja government in the late 1980s were more diversified than those of the Febres Cordero administration, which closely identified with the United States. For example, Ecuador was more active in its relations with the Third World, multilateral organizations, Western Europe, and socialist countries.
Ecuador has offered humanitarianian aid to many countries, is a supporter of the United Nations, and currently contributes troops to the UN mission in Haiti. Ecuador has also been an elective member of the UN Security Council.
In Antarctica, Ecuador has maintained a peaceful research station for scientific study in the British-claimed territory and is a member nation of the Antarctica Treaty.
Domestic politics
The presidency of Rafael Correa in the early 21st century saw a radical change in the country's foreign policy. Traditional ties with the United States grew more acrimonious and there were increased ties with the governments of Russia and Iran. The relations with the United States, however, improved significantly during the presidency of his successor Lenin Moreno since 2017.
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Bilateral relations Country Formal Relations Notes Belgium Belgium is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Ecuador has an embassy in Brussels.April 26, 1835See Chile–Ecuador relations. Chile has an embassy in Quito. Ecuador has an embassy in Santiago. Czech Republic Czech Republic is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru, and hold consulates in Quito and Guayaquil. Ecuador has an embassy in Prague.February 1, 1980See China–Ecuador relations
Formal relations started on 1980-01-02 and seven months later China set up its embassy in Ecuador. In July 1981, Ecuador set up its embassy in China. Sino-Ecuadorian relations have been advancing smoothly. The two sides maintain high-level political contacts and exchanges in trade, economic progress, science, technology, culture and education. In international affairs, the two countries understand and support each other.
In September 2012, the two nations signed a Commercial and Security Agreement to allow Ecuador to sell easily seafood, cocoa and bananas in China, with the Chinese agreeing to ease tariffs on further food items. In the same period China established an $80 million line of credit for Ecuador with the EximBank to help Ecuador build a road to the re-sited Quito airport.See Colombia–Ecuador relations
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa withdrew his government's ambassador in Bogotá, Colombia, and ordered troops to the country's border following a Colombian raid against leftist rebels inside Ecuador March 2, 2008. The Colombian director of national police claimed three captured computers from the deceased FARC rebel leader Raúl Reyes document "tremendously revealing" and "very grave" links between Ecuador and Colombian rebels.March 2, 2008. However, Colombia's actions were condemned across the board by all South American nations, with only the US supporting Colombia. For example, Brazil's foreign minister, Celso Amorim, condemned the Colombian incursion into Ecuador. Furthermore, he suggested that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez recently gave the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia $300 million. Ecuador's president Rafael Correa said March 3, 2008, that a deal to release political prisoners—including former Colombian Sen. Ingrid Betancourt—was nearly complete before the March 1, 2008, Colombian raid into his country. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on March 5, 2008, called the announced movement of Colombian forces in Ecuador a "war crime," and joined Ecuador's president Rafael Correa in demanding international condemnation of the cross-border attack. The presidents of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador March 7, 2008, signed a declaration to end a crisis sparked when Colombian troops killed a rebel leader and 21 others inside Ecuadoran territory (2008 Andean diplomatic crisis). In January 2021, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno and Colombian President Ivan Duque made a joint statement on the good relations of the two countries. Finland Finland is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Ecuador has an embassy in Helsinki. 1922See Ecuador–Germany relations Ecuador has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate in Hamburg. Germany has an embassy in Quito. Greece Greece is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Ecuador holds a consulate in Athens.1969See Ecuador–India relations
On November 16, 2008, the Foreign Minister of Ecuador Maria Isabel Salvador met her counterpart, Pranab Mukherjee, with a close relationship in oil and defence between these geographically distant countries high on the agenda. On the oil front, the new government in Ecuador has reversed the earlier revenue-sharing arrangements with western oil companies and is now keen on striking new partnerships with state-owned ONGC Videsh of India. In the defence sector, Ecuador became the first country to sign a contract for purchasing the Indian-made Dhruv helicopters, of which one was for use by its president. The embassy expanded its setup with the appointment of a Military Attache and prospects appear bright for more defence exports as Ecuador has agreed to be the servicing hub in South America for Indian defence equipment.1973See Ecuador–Iran relations
Ecuador has maintained trade relations with Iran. In December 2008, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili visited Ecuador. Alongside president Rafael Correa he called for greater "South–South" co-operation, a term denoting greater exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between the global South. Iranian president Ahmadinejad also attended the inauguration of President Correa in January 2007. August 26, 1918See Ecuador–Japan relations Ecuador has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Quito.See Ecuador–Malaysia relations
Relations with Malaysia covers on political, commercial, cultural and social activities. Both countries are the members of Non-Aligned Movement. Ecuador trade value with Malaysia are worth about US$15 million.New Straits Times Ecuador's petite envoy holds sway September 19, 2012 "Clearly, relations between Ecuador and Malaysia are on an upward trend, which may possibly see a change in the trade balance which is"1837 Diplomatic Relations Severed in 5 April 2024See Ecuador–Mexico relations
In April 2024, Mexico severed diplomatic relations with Ecuador due to the raid on the Mexican embassy in Ecuador.‘Outrage against international law’: Mexico breaks diplomatic ties with Ecuador over embassy raid Netherlands The Netherlands are accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Ecuador has an embassy in The Hague, a consulate in Rotterdam, and a vice consulate in Amsterdam.2010Ecuador recognized the State of Palestine in 2010.See Ecuador–Peru relations
The Paquisha War was a brief military clash that took place between January and February 1981 between Ecuador and Peru over the control of three watchposts. Since the 1990s, Ecuadoran foreign policy has been focused on the country's border dispute with Peru, an issue that has festered since independence. The boundary dispute led to the Cenepa War between Ecuador and Peru in early 1995; after a peace agreement brokered by the four Guarantors of the Rio Protocol (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and the United States), the Military Observers Mission to Ecuador-Peru (MOMEP) was set up to monitor the zone. In 1998, Presidents Jamil Mahuad of Ecuador and Alberto Fujimori of Peru signed a comprehensive settlement over control of the disputed zone. Ecuador is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Vienna, Austria. Poland is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Romania Romania is accredited to Ecuador from Lima, Peru, and has consulates in Quito and Guayaquil.See Ecuador–Russia relations Ecuador has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Quito. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Ecuador and SADR maintained diplomatic relations between 1983 and 2024. South Africa Ecuador has an embassy in Pretoria. South Africa is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru.1840See Ecuador–Spain relations Ecuador has an embassy in Madrid and consulates-general in Alicante, Barcelona, Málaga, Murcia, Palma and Valencia. Spain has an embassy in Quito and a consulate-general in Guayaquil. Ecuador has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has a consulate in Quito. Thailand Thailand is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru, and holds a consulate general in Quito. Ecuador has an consulate in Bangkok.1950 See Ecuador–Turkey relations Ecuador has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Quito and a consulate in Guayaquil. Trade volume between the two countries was US$117 million in 2019 (Ecuadorian exports/imports: 58/59 million USD. United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates is accredited to Ecuador from its embassy in Lima, Peru. Ecuador has an embassy in Abu Dhabi. 1853 See Ecuador–United Kingdom relations
Ecuador established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 29 January 1853. Ecuador maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Ecuador through its embassy in Quito.
Both countries share common membership of the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Andean Countries–UK Trade Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement.
Relations between the United Kingdom and Ecuador were traditionally regarded as "low-key but cordial", especially before the election of Rafael Correa; the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited the country in 2009, as part of a tour celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Darwin. President Correa visited London in the same year, speaking mostly in English at the London School of Economics about the changes his government was making.