Ecuador - Russia Relations
Ecuador and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations in 1969, but it was not until 1972, when Ecuador joined OPEC, that the Soviets showed much interest in Ecuador. By the mid-1970s, the Soviet Union maintained an embassy in Quito rivaling in importance that of the United States.
Russia and Ecuador have enjoyed close relationship over a decade as Rafael Correa’s government moved the country away from the US. In February 2017, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Guillaume Long told Sputnik that the relations between Russia and Ecuador had a strategic character, adding that such a cooperation promoted the idea of a multipolar world. Russia and Ecuador signed a deal on cooperation against money laundering and financing of terrorism. Moscow and Quito are also finalizing agreements on extradition and transfer of prisoners.
Equador counts on attracting more Russian companies to participation in investment projects, including in the energy area, President of the parliament Gabriela Rivadeneira said 29 March 2016. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is a strategic partner of all the Latin America, the official said. "We have offers that meet the Russian interests, and [we are talking] not only about products export but also about oil projects. We expect to attract even more Russian companies," Rivadeneira told reporters during a visit to Moscow. She stressed that Russia has already invested in major Ecuadorian projects and that her visit was aimed at boosting the bilateral trade ties. Rivadeneira arrived in Moscow to hold meetings with representatives of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as with the Russia's parliament upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko.
Russia should increase import of products made in Latin America to fill the gaps caused by the Russian countermeasures against the Western sanctions, Russia’s Ambassador to Ecuador Andrei Veklenko told Sputnik 15 February 2017. "The delays in filling the gaps, caused by certain sanctions, with Latin American products are obvious. This process needs to be spurred, because the quality of local [Latin American] products is very, very high, everyone knows that," the ambassador said in an interview.
As a result of the inspections, conducted by the Russian agricultural watchdog in Ecuador in November 2016, more Ecuadorian products could appear on the Russian market soon, among them fish and shrimps, cheese and dairy products, Veklenko noted. The import of Ecuadorian shrimps to Russia in 2016 increased by 90% in comparison with 2015, the Russian envoy added. "Ecuador has perfect coffee, chocolate and cocoa. However, they have not been supplied so far and this is the potential that could be used," the ambassador said, referring to the Ecuadorian import to Russia.
The European Union, the Unites States and some other Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia in 2014 over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and several times extended them. In turn, Russia has denied the allegations and in turn introduced a food embargo on meat products, dairy products, fish, fruits and vegetables from certain countries that sanctioned Moscow.
Russia and Ecuador are preparing a bilateral agreement on cooperation in peaceful use of outer space, scheduled to be finalized soon, Russia’s Ambassador to Ecuador Andrei Veklenko said 15 February 2017. “During the last, forth meeting of intergovernmental [Russian-Ecuadorian] commission in Quito, the sides discussed such concrete things as remote sensing of the land from space, use of GLONASS [Russian satellite navigation system] here [in Ecuador]. But in order for that to work, a legal base is required. Currently, the bilateral agreement on peaceful use of outer space is being actively reviewed,” the ambassador said.
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