Andrés Terán Parral

Andrés Horacio Terán Parral (born 8 June 1960) is an Ecuadorian diplomat who currently serves as Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He was President of the OPCW Executive Council from May 2024 to May 2025 and represented Ecuador at the International Court of Justice in the case Mexico v. Ecuador in 2024.

 Early life and education 
Terán Parral was born in Lima, Peru. His father was an Ecuadorian diplomat and his mother was an Argentine professor of literature. He earned a law degree from the Universidad Católica de Asunción in 1989 and a doctorate in jurisprudence from the International University of Ecuador in 1999. He is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese."H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral is Ecuador's Ambassador in The Hague". Diplomat Magazine. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

 Diplomatic career 
Terán Parral joined Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981. He held domestic roles including Third Secretary (1983), Desk Officer for North America, Diplomatic Coordinator to the Vice President (1998), and Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister (2008).

His international postings included assignments at Ecuadorian missions in Paraguay (1984–1989), Spain (1992–1997), Belgium and the European Union (2001–2004), and the United States as Deputy Chief of Mission (2004–2006). In 2009, he was appointed Chargé d’Affaires in Colombia, where he participated in efforts to restore diplomatic relations, which resumed in December 2010."Ecuador–Colombia normalise relations". El Universo (archived). 29 December 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

He served as Ecuador’s Ambassador to Canada from March 2011 to December 2014. He later held positions as Director of International Relations at the Attorney General’s Office, Director for South America (2017), and Deputy Foreign Minister (2018–2019). In November 2019, he was appointed Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW."Ecuador Accredited to the OPCW". OPCW. October 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

 OPCW leadership and ICJ appearance 
In May 2024, Terán Parral was elected President of the OPCW Executive Council for a one-year term."Ecuador Appointed Chair OPCW Executive Council". OPCW. May 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025. During his tenure, he participated in official missions including a visit to former chemical weapons destruction sites in China."OPCW Executive Council Visits China". OPCW. September 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

In April 2024, he represented Ecuador before the International Court of Justice in the case Mexico v. Ecuador, concerning a diplomatic incident involving the Mexican Embassy in Quito. During oral arguments, he described the event as "isolated" and reaffirmed Ecuador’s respect for international law.

 Nomination for OPCW Director-General 
In 2024, Ecuador nominated Terán Parral as a candidate for the post of Director-General of the OPCW."Ambassador Terán Parral: A Strategic Vision for the OPCW". Diplomat Magazine. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

 Diplomatic missions abroad (1984–present) 
Terán has served in the following diplomatic posts:
 Embassy of Ecuador in Paraguay (1984–1989)
 Embassy in Spain (1992–1997)
 Embassy in Belgium / Mission to the European Union (2001–2004)
 Embassy in the United States (2004–2006)
 Embassy in Uruguay (2009)
 Embassy in Colombia (2009–2011)
 Embassy in Canada (2011–2014)
 Embassy in the Netherlands / OPCW (2019–present)
 References