Argentina and Ecuador find themselves at the center of a tense diplomatic clash that escalated after a dramatic escape from Quito. In the Ecuadorian capital, former minister Maria de los Angeles Duarte Pesantes, who had been a political figure linked to Rafael Correa, sought refuge at the Argentine Embassy. The incident triggered a strong reaction from Buenos Aires, which demanded the withdrawal of ambassador Gabriel Fucks as a reciprocal move, signaling a deepening rift between the two South American neighbors.
Argentina voiced strong concern over what it described as an incomprehensible government decision to escalate the dispute. The Foreign Ministry stated that it was surprised and deeply saddened by Ecuador’s decision to elevate the case of Duarte Pesantes to a bilateral fault line. The ministry also stressed that there is no international rule obliging Argentine authorities to detain a former minister, who has lived in embassy residence since 2020 as a political refugee. This stance underscored Argentina’s insistence on sovereign limits and the protection of asylum norms while condemning any action perceived as political persecution by rivals.
Duarte had received an eight-year prison sentence on bribery charges, with courts linking him to a broader network associated with Correa that allegedly sought multi‑million dollar bribes from companies in exchange for state contracts. Supporters on Duarte and Correa’s side rejected the ruling as a political persecution, arguing that the case was motivated by political motivations more than by straightforward legal grounds. Meanwhile, Ecuador declared ambassador Fucks persona non grata, accusing him of violating good faith and mutual trust between states by facilitating Duarte’s escape. Ecuadorian authorities argued that gaps in supervision around the Argentine Embassy residence in Quito allowed Duarte to leave the country and travel abroad, highlighting perceived weaknesses in the control systems surrounding the diplomatic compound.
The situation later unfolded with Duarte moving on to Caracas, where Oscar Laborde, Argentina’s ambassador, welcomed her as she sought safety away from the pressures of the regional dispute. Laborde publicly thanked the government of President Alberto Fernandez for offering protection amid pressure exerted by former leadership in Ecuador and by the current administration in power in Argentina, signaling a broader regional dimension to the asylum matter and the ongoing tension between the two nations as they navigate issues of diplomacy, asylum status, and political disagreements. This sequence of events reflects the fragile nature of diplomatic ties in the region and the delicate balance between asylum rights and interstate sovereignty, as observed by observers and foreign policy analysts cited in official statements and regional commentary.