Ecuador is currently experiencing an unprecedented wave of violence, with over 1,300 murders recorded in the first 50 days of 2025. This is a 40% increase compared to 2023, and highlights the deteriorating security situation in the country. According to a report by US think tank InSight Crime, Ecuador is one of the region’s most significant drug trafficking hubs, with an increasing role in smuggling cocaine from Colombia and Peru to Europe, Mexico and Central America.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has asked for military support from the international community to combat crime, citing a lack of resources within the police force. He has suggested working with the US, European and Brazilian armies to address the issue, and has called for Ecuadorian gangs to be classified as terrorist groups.

However, some analysts argue that deploying the military in this context is unlikely to solve the violence problem, as has been seen in Colombia where the approach has proven ineffective over several decades. Obinna Oke .

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/ecuador-calls-for-international-military-support-to-fight-drug-cartels/a-72007011?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf