In a bold move, Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has called for military support from the United States, Europe, and Brazil to tackle the escalating violence caused by drug gangs. As he prepares for a presidential run-off, his administration faces scrutiny over its heavy-handed tactics, which critics argue may not be effectively curbing a worsening crisis.
Ecuador's President Calls for International Military Support in Drug War
Ecuador's President Calls for International Military Support in Drug War
President Daniel Noboa urges US, European, and Brazilian forces to aid Ecuador in combating soaring gang violence linked to drug trafficking.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has taken a decisive stance against the rising tide of gang violence in the country, urging the United States, European nations, and Brazilian forces to join his fight against criminal organizations. In a recent interview with the BBC, he emphasized the need for international military collaboration as the country grapples with an alarming surge in violence rooted in drug trafficking.
Noboa, who has already linked the increasing boldness of gangs to their transformation into "international narco-terrorist groups," called for US President Donald Trump to categorize Ecuadorian gangs as terrorist entities. This classification would potentially strengthen international law enforcement efforts against these organizations, much like the designations given to certain Mexican and Venezuelan cartels.
Highlighting that approximately 70 percent of the world’s cocaine is trafficked through Ecuador's ports, Noboa framed the crisis as one requiring urgent international assistance. While he has previously sought foreign military aid, this is the first instance of his specific appeal to US, European, and Brazilian military forces for support. Ecuador's looming presidential election, set for April 13, places considerable weight on security issues, with Noboa's approach serving as a hallmark of his 16-month tenure thus far.
Despite a reported decrease of about 16% in the murder rate from 2023 to 2024, the violence persists, with January 2025 alone recording a staggering 781 killings. Critics of Noboa's administration argue that his stringent measures—such as military mobilizations in urban areas—come across as overly aggressive and call for more nuanced strategies to address crime.
In a controversial partnership, Noboa has enlisted Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm Blackwater, for advice on military strategies. However, this association raises concerns among some Ecuadorians about potential human rights violations, given Prince's contentious history.
With constitutional amendments potentially on the horizon to permit foreign military bases, swaying international leaders to offer assistance presents a substantial challenge for Noboa. He contends Ecuador's relatively smaller economy, which relies significantly on drug trafficking revenues, intersects deeply with the global drug trade and must be addressed multilaterally.
As Noboa continues to call attention to the transnational nature of these criminal networks, he faces growing criticism from opposition figures who question the effectiveness of his security policies. With his political future hanging in the balance, the second round of elections is poised to test public sentiment toward his handling of the drug war and its far-reaching consequences for Ecuadorian society.
Noboa, who has already linked the increasing boldness of gangs to their transformation into "international narco-terrorist groups," called for US President Donald Trump to categorize Ecuadorian gangs as terrorist entities. This classification would potentially strengthen international law enforcement efforts against these organizations, much like the designations given to certain Mexican and Venezuelan cartels.
Highlighting that approximately 70 percent of the world’s cocaine is trafficked through Ecuador's ports, Noboa framed the crisis as one requiring urgent international assistance. While he has previously sought foreign military aid, this is the first instance of his specific appeal to US, European, and Brazilian military forces for support. Ecuador's looming presidential election, set for April 13, places considerable weight on security issues, with Noboa's approach serving as a hallmark of his 16-month tenure thus far.
Despite a reported decrease of about 16% in the murder rate from 2023 to 2024, the violence persists, with January 2025 alone recording a staggering 781 killings. Critics of Noboa's administration argue that his stringent measures—such as military mobilizations in urban areas—come across as overly aggressive and call for more nuanced strategies to address crime.
In a controversial partnership, Noboa has enlisted Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm Blackwater, for advice on military strategies. However, this association raises concerns among some Ecuadorians about potential human rights violations, given Prince's contentious history.
With constitutional amendments potentially on the horizon to permit foreign military bases, swaying international leaders to offer assistance presents a substantial challenge for Noboa. He contends Ecuador's relatively smaller economy, which relies significantly on drug trafficking revenues, intersects deeply with the global drug trade and must be addressed multilaterally.
As Noboa continues to call attention to the transnational nature of these criminal networks, he faces growing criticism from opposition figures who question the effectiveness of his security policies. With his political future hanging in the balance, the second round of elections is poised to test public sentiment toward his handling of the drug war and its far-reaching consequences for Ecuadorian society.
