20FEB25 Ecuador and the EU sign security pact- 🪖"The European Union and Ecuador have signed an agreement to coordinate security operations. According to the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry, the pact is aimed at fighting transnational organized crime, especially the illegal drug trade.👮‍♂
Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld said the agreement, signed Friday, is part of the government’s plan to develop international alliances to fight organized crime. Last week, President Daniel Noboa asked the National Assembly to authorize foreign military bases in Ecuador for the purpose of combating the international drug trade.👨‍💼

In a statement, the EU said the agreement allows “joint efforts, investigations and law enforcement actions” against international crime groups involved in drug trafficking and other illegal actions. It said it will provide funding for technological improvements, especially of surveillance operations in EU and Ecuadorian ports. The agreement also establishes crime prevention monitoring centers in the EU and Ecuador.

In a statement, the EU said the agreement allows “joint efforts, investigations and law enforcement actions” against international crime groups involved in drug trafficking and other illegal actions. It said it will provide funding for technological improvements, especially of surveillance operations in EU and Ecuadorian ports. The agreement also establishes crime prevention monitoring centers in the EU and Ecuador.

Ecuador ranks sixth for ‘most violent’ cities-
Ecuador ranks only behind Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa and the United States for having the most violent cities in the world. In an annual survey compiled by the International Citizen Council for Public Security, Ecuador placed three cities, Machala, Guayaquil and Manta, on its list of top 50 most violent cities.
Machala ranked seventh in the world for murders, with 87.5 per 100,000 population, followed by Guayaquil (73.6) and Manta 70.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, topped the survey with 139.31 homicides per 100,000.
In number of cities with the highest murder rates, Mexico had 20 in the top 50, Brazil had eight and Colombia six.

Temporary Cooperation-
The government of Ecuador, led by President Daniel Noboa, proposed the temporary incorporation of foreign military forces to combat organized crime and drug trafficking, which have generated a significant increase in violence in the country in recent years. This initiative seeks to reinforce the actions of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and National Police in the context of what Noboa has defined as an "internal armed conflict" against narcoterrorism.

At the same time, the president of Ecuador wants to promote a constitutional reform to allow foreign military bases in Ecuador, currently prohibited by the Constitution. This reform must be approved by the National Assembly and ratified by referendum.

Ecuador faces a serious security crisis linked to drug trafficking, with international cartels such as those from Mexico, Colombia and the Balkans operating in collaboration with local gangs. Although homicide rates decreased slightly between 2023 and 2024 (from 46.18 to 38.76 per 100,000 inhabitants), they remain significantly higher than in previous years. January 2025 was the most violent month on record in the country's history.

Proposed constitutional reform-
To facilitate international cooperation in matters of security, the Executive has proposed a partial reform of Article 5 of the Constitution, which currently prohibits the establishment of foreign military bases in Ecuadorian territory. This modification would allow the temporary presence of special forces from allied countries to support the National Police and the Armed Forces in operations against organized crime.

Reactions in the National Assembly-
The National Assembly is debating a resolution of political support for this initiative. The pro-government ADN bloc has defended the need for international collaboration to effectively confront criminal organizations operating in the country. It is expected that in the next few days the Legislature will pronounce itself on the proposed constitutional reform and the cooperation agreements proposed by the Executive.

Former President Rafael Correa sharply criticized the proposal, calling it an admission of the current government's failure to resolve the violence crisis and questioning its effectiveness. Security experts have said the move could focus more on technical cooperation and intelligence than direct military operations. Ecuador already has agreements with the United States to combat drug trafficking, such as joint maritime patrols. However, foreign military bases were eliminated during Correa's term in 2009, citing sovereignty concerns."

Source: https://www.defensa.com/ecuador/ecuador-plantea-fuerzas-armadas-extranjeras-actuen-pais-para?fbclid=IwY2xjawIsHxpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXvLUW1o6LaZAPBVmSYEH3A6hDTYcMB17icQn6LFBqls3MSOxDvtnxjZaQ_aem_-zEYUkJYKoXRLXPM0yytcw