The Ecuadorian government said last month it would accept an offer from the United States to exchange what it called “Ukrainian and Russian scrap metal” for $200 million worth of advanced American equipment. The United States said the weapons it received from Ecuador would be sent to Ukraine to help it in its conflict with Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Photo: GI
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry , told RIA that Ecuador's decision was made under pressure from outside forces. "Such a reckless decision was made by the Ecuadorian side under serious pressure from external stakeholders," she said.
"Our partners clearly understand the terms of the contract, which include the obligation to use the supplied equipment for the stated purposes and not transfer the equipment to third parties without the consent of the Russian side."
Authorities in Ecuador said Russia had advised against the military exchange but said they had the right to do so anyway.
The Russian Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said that the military cooperation agreement between Russia and Ecuador does not allow the transfer of military products to third parties without Russia's prior written consent.
The commander of the US Southern Command, Laura Richardson, said in January 2023 that the US is willing to exchange US weapons for Russian-made weapons with a number of Latin American countries if those countries agree to transfer them to Ukraine.
Huy Hoang (according to RIA, TASS, Reuters)
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