Tension mounts between Ecuador and the U.S

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced on 7 February 2009 that he has ordered a top U.S. diplomat to leave the country amid a growing dispute between the two countries regarding the local police force. Correa stated that he is expelling the diplomat because the U.S. government revoked annual aid payments to Ecuador's anti-smuggling police force. The diplomat reportedly issued a letter to officials with the Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) on 8 January warning that annual aid payments would be reconsidered because Ecuador has refused to allow the U.S. to veto appointments to the HTU force. Correa harshly condemned the threat from the U.S. Embassy and called the letter "insolent and foolish." Representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Quito did not comment on the incident.