Daniel Noboa, the President of Ecuador, has reached out to the BBC expressing his desire for the United States, European nations, and Brazil to support his “war” against criminal groups. Noboa would like these foreign armies to intervene against Ecuador’s drug trafficking issues, which have continued to escalate. Ecuador’s ports are a major hub for cocaine trafficking globally.

Noboa has previously requested foreign military assistance to combat drug cartels, however, this is the first time he has specifically requested help from the US, Brazil, and Europe. Security is a top issue for voters in Ecuador, which has experienced skyrocketing violence levels as gangs compete for control over drug trafficking routes.

The Ecuadorean government is already working with Erik Prince, Trump’s ally and founder of the contentious private military firm Blackwater. There are concerns from critics that this collaboration may lead to human rights violations within the country.

Despite a 16% drop in the murder rate during Noboa’s term, killings in January 2025 hit a record high of 781 in one month. Noboa is striving to secure further cooperation agreements with allied nations to support the country’s police and military forces.

Noboa’s policies have been met with a mixed reception. Some citizens are concerned about Prince’s past record, while others believe that deploying foreign special forces in Ecuador could be beneficial in fighting the drug cartels.

This comes ahead of a highly contested run-off vote in Ecuador’s Presidential election on the 13th of April, where Noboa will face(left-wing candidate) Luisa González. The first-round results showed a very close margin between the two candidates, indicating a potentially polarizing second round.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c204290er1ro