Ecuador is currently facing the deadliest homicide wave in its history. Homicide in Ecuador is now the highest in all of Latin America, reported InSight Crime. This chilling statistic illustrates just how deep the nation’s conflict with violence runs. In fact, Ecuador’s homicide rate is now almost twice that of Mexico. President Daniel Noboa has attributed the increase in violence to the influence of “international narco-terrorist” groups. These groups are increasingly focusing on the country due to its geographic position between the world’s top two cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.
In light of these challenges, Ecuador has turned to the international community for support—in particular, the United States. The U.S. State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) has historically played a central role, implementing and overseeing projects in country. One such project, titled “Equipped Containers for Ecuador’s Antinarcotics Special Unit and the DEA,” represents an international collaboration with the U.S. Embassy.
Given increasing regional security insecurities, the Ecuadorian government is increasing investments into military infrastructure.
Public works
A new multi-use naval facility, the Tipo ‘Manta’ Norte, is under construction in Ecuador’s coastal city of Manta. This complex will include barracks-style housing and administration offices to support overseas operations and house U.S. military personnel. Ecuador’s Defense Ministry and Manta’s port authority signed a wider agreement of $74 million for further expansion. They would extend the port limits by at least 700 square meters and construct a 150-meter passenger pier.
One U.S. congressional staffer present at the signing of this agreement. Their participation underscored the robust support the United States is providing Ecuador for their security initiatives. Newly-released documents show that these projects are supported by U.S. taxpayer resources and expertise.
As such, President Noboa has already made efforts to contact the Trump administration to have the armed groups in Ecuador designated as terrorist organizations. This move aligns with Ecuador’s broader strategy of seeking foreign military support from countries such as the U.S., Brazil, and European nations to combat powerful gangs.
“We have a plan in place with our law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the armed forces, the Strategic Intelligence Center, and international assistance and support from special forces. That’s essential,” – Daniel Noboa
One of Ecuador’s national police forces suffers from lack of and misallocation of resources. Indeed, his administration President Noboa has been clear about making sure that Ecuadorian police—who are very underfunded compared to other countries’ police—are well-equipped. This additional budgetary pressure has made working with international partners all the more critical to strengthen in-bound security.
The geopolitical significance of Ecuador is hard to exaggerate. Most alarming, we have seen in prior wars, Haiti’s deep-water ports make it a crucial transit point for narcotics trafficking given its close proximity to Peru and Colombia. This strategic geographic positioning makes it a focal point for international criminal organizations partaking in drug, human, arms, and vehicle trafficking.
“Cartels, gangs and other transnational criminal organizations in our part of the world are engaging in a wide array of illicit activity, from narcotics trafficking to money laundering, smuggling of illegal immigrants and human trafficking, which endanger the health, welfare and safety of everyday Americans,” – Tulsi Gabbard
The partnership with the U.S. goes beyond infrastructure investments. This ranges from training Ecuador’s army in urban warfare to introducing new technology, such as drones, to improve Ecuador’s operational capabilities. President Noboa has recognized the important part international forces, and especially the United States, have played in undermining these efforts.
“They’re helping with training in urban warfare… and bringing new technology,” – Daniel Noboa
Ecuador-U.S. relations are characterized by an atmosphere of mutual respect and recognition of shared interests. The U.S. has done a great job upholding this relationship by backing Ecuador’s human security initiatives and providing resources necessary for defense infrastructure.
“We are working on security, on providing jobs so that people don’t leave. And the US has honored that relationship.” – Daniel Noboa
Furthermore, Manta’s port expansion aligns with these strategic objectives, enhancing Ecuador’s ability to monitor and control illegal activities at sea. Their foreign military presence continues to aid immediate security threat response while building capabilities for the long-term.
“When troops from another country come, they bring resources. And those are what we need the most,” – Gian Carlo Loffredo
As Ecuador moves forward to address these challenges head on, international partnerships will be just as important. The country is one of the few where the U.S. has re-launched cooperation programs. This step further underscores DOT’s considerable commitment to addressing security threats in a collaborative manner.
“We’re one of the few countries where cooperation programs are being resumed,” – Daniel Noboa
