At this moment, there is no more painful and delicate issue in international relations than the crisis in the Middle East and, specifically from October 7, 2023, the escalation of violence in Gaza. One does not need to be an expert in international relations (in capital letters) to understand that it is not time to change the representative of Ecuador at the United Nations. No self-respecting country would change its representative during the two-year rotation period in the Security Council, let alone a week after taking over the presidency of the Council for a month. Any failure will have serious implications for the other powers that make up the Council, all of which are key nations for getting Ecuador out of major crises like organized crime or commercial ostracism. Otherwise, it is an honor and a responsibility that small countries can only join every 30 or 35 years, and where Ecuador does not only represent itself, but also the Latin American group, so the responsibility is even greater.

That is why it must be said in all his letters. Just appointing a new representative to the United Nations, which is worse than being an absolute neophyte on the subject, is a lack of respect for the country and its trajectory in the United Nations, something that very few governments (even populist ones) like Bucaram or Correa) have attempted break down. I thought Daniel Noboa wanted to put the past behind him and not repeat it, sending the former anti-corruption minister of sad memory during the government of Lenin Moreno.

If the newly elected president and chancellor believe that it is time to side with one power or another in order to win on the international stage, they are wrong. The moment a small country does not use international law in the United Nations system, it can only expect to be the prey or victim of conflicting powers. They lose not only in the United Nations system but in all scenarios, especially commercial and investment scenarios. A country that does not respect itself is never respected by others.

In fact, Guillermo Lasso also made the mistake of changing Ecuador’s UN representative at the wrong time, when Ecuador had already been elected to the Security Council. If you wanted change, it should have happened much earlier. What no one can say is that Hernán Pérez Loose does not know about the subject. Moreover, he is one of the few Ecuadorians with a doctorate in international law from Harvard and his recent actions in the Security Council were correct and in accordance with the law (even the American and European delegates said so at these critical moments). But it is not about defending a person, what must prevail is the good name of Ecuador and the new government on the international scene.

Daniel Noboa has a very simple decision in sight: Leave Pérez Loose as representative to the United Nations, at least until Ecuador’s participation in the Security Council ends in December 2024. It’s not asking too much. He would show that he has maturity and capacity as a statesman, but above all respect for the country that he will represent starting this week. After the end of the Pérez Loose administration, it would be best to send a career ambassador to the United Nations. There are many former rectors and vice-rectors in the service who are up to the task.

Otherwise, the new chancellor of Ecuador, Gabriela Sommerfeld, would avoid being remembered for a terrible first step in international negotiation scenarios or to leave an established image that the new government will also use diplomatic positions in a clientelistic way or to reward personal or relatives, just like everyone else. others did.

Long Term Thinking: Unfortunately for fate and the folly of foreign policy optimists, Ecuador has been elected a member of the Security Council for the period from January 2023 to December 2024. Nonsense, because we know (and even career diplomats know it better) that this seat on the Security Council is always was, was and will be the sword of Damocles for the country. Not only because we are a small country on the world stage, increasingly dislocated by forces in eternal conflict and global competition, but also because we know our low level of seriousness and respect for institutions. This is just the latest proof of that. In Ecuador, no one can predict that – when it seeks a seat in the Security Council – the government in power will decide on Leopoldo Benítez Vinueza, who not only has a thorough knowledge of international law and the history of international relations and possesses impeccable ethics, but also with himself but and with land or, José de la Gasca. Clearly, until we assume that we all have an ethical duty to reject the positions we are prepared to take, it would be better to refrain from managing any relevant position in the multilateral system. (OR)

Grace Jaramillo holds a doctorate in political science and international relations from Queen’s University and is a professor at the University of British Columbia.