Following a dispute resolution over the sale of Soviet-era weapons to the United States and the handling of Ecuadorian bananas destined for Russia, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage the specifics of Russia-related engagement. This update came via RIA Novosti, citing Vladimir Sprinchan, Russia’s ambassador to Ecuador.
Sprinchan reported that he briefed the president in detail on the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation across a broad spectrum of sectors. He noted evident interest from the Russian side in nearly all active and prospective projects, including several that had previously stalled and others with promising futures.
Sprinchan also disclosed that the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, was tasked with coordinating the next steps in the Russia-Ecuador relationship. He added that the Ecuadorian counterpart would assume a co-chair position on the intergovernmental commission focused on trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
Vladimir Sprinchan, who previously served as Russia’s ambassador to Ecuador, asserted that Ecuador will not be supplying Russian equipment to the United States.
Simultaneously, Rosselkhoznadzor’s allegations regarding Ecuadorian bananas surfaced amid broader chatter that Ecuador might facilitate the transfer of Russian and Ukrainian-made equipment to the United States in exchange for roughly 200 million dollars worth of new machinery.
Sergei Dankvert, a former head of Rosselkhoznadzor, commented that Russia was permitted to supply products from several Ecuadorian firms identified as noncompliant with certain trade rules.