Following Russia’s halt on some of its fruit imports, Ecuador is urgently seeking new markets for its bananas.
This development surfaced after Ecuador declared its intention to transfer Soviet-era arms to the U.S., aimed at supporting Ukraine.
Russia, on February 5, barred five Ecuadorian banana exporters due to a fruit fly issue, later extending this action to include Ecuadorian flowers.
Minister Sonsoles García has called on producers to find alternative markets, highlighting the situation’s urgency in a Teleamazonas interview.
Russia, which absorbs 21% of Ecuador’s banana exports, is a significant buyer.
However, with nearly nine out of ten bananas in Russia sourced from Ecuador, the impact is considerable.
The sanctioned firms, which had previously delivered a significant share of these exports, had faced prior phytosanitary warnings.
The ban’s timing aligns with Ecuador‘s plan to exchange obsolete Russian military equipment with the U.S., a move criticized by Russia but not seen as direct retaliation by Minister García.
She argues that a complete ban on Ecuadorian fruit would have constituted a real retaliatory act.
In response to these geopolitical tensions, Ecuador plans to exchange six MI helicopters and other military assets for $200 million worth of modern equipment from the U.S.
New arsenal aids Ecuador in tackling drug trafficking violence, highlighting the nexus of diplomacy, trade, and national security.