Ecuador’s President Calls for International Military Aid to Combat Gang Violence

President Daniel Noboa has publicly requested international military support to combat escalating gang violence in Ecuador. He advocates designating local gangs as terrorist organizations and emphasizes the urgent need for foreign military aid against the powerful drug trafficking networks plaguing the nation.

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa recently made headlines with his call for military intervention in the escalating war against criminal gangs plaguing the country. In an interview with the BBC, he expressed a dire need for support from the US, European, and Brazilian armed forces, parallel to the measures already taken against drug cartels in Mexico and Venezuela. Currently, Ecuador plays a significant role in global cocaine trafficking, with most of the substance being shipped via its ports, and Noboa believes the international community must act to combat this challenge.

In light of this growing crisis, Noboa has urged US President Donald Trump to designate Ecuadorian gangs, including Los Lobos, Los Choneros, and Los Tiguerones, as terrorist organizations, thus granting US law enforcement additional powers to confront them. Noboa’s administration has come under scrutiny for its heavy-handed approach, which has seen a marginal reduction in the country’s murder rate while the levels of violence remain alarmingly high.

Addressing the BBC, Noboa stated, “We need to have more soldiers to fight this war. Seventy percent of the world's cocaine exits via Ecuador. We need the help of international forces.” This marked the first instance of Noboa identifying specific nations whose military support he desires for Ecuador’s security efforts.

As the country prepares for the April 2024 runoff election, voters are closely scrutinizing Noboa’s tough strategies against gangs and their effectiveness. The current record of violence, particularly evident in the January killings that rose to over 780 individuals in a single month, raises significant questions about the durability of his harsh tactics. Despite reductions in some murder statistics, Ecuadorians remain divided over the direction of the president's security policies.

Compounding the issue, Noboa's partnership with Erik Prince, founder of the controversial private military firm Blackwater, has stirred skepticism among the populace regarding rights violations in the military operations in Ecuador. Noboa insists that any international assistance, including from Prince, must conform to local laws. He claims gangs have committed egregious human rights abuses, saying they “have mutilated people, raped thousands of women, trafficked human organs, and traded illegal gold.”

As Noboa navigates the complexities of foreign military aid and his alliance with Prince, he faces challenges not just from within Ecuador but also from international dynamics concerning drug trafficking. The president has vowed that the armed forces will operate within legal boundaries, despite the daunting statistics that reveal the extent of gang violence plaguing daily life in Ecuador.

Ultimately, as elections loom, Noboa's future in leadership may hinge on public sentiment around the effectiveness of his strategies, with many Ecuadoreans seeking lasting solutions that address not just security but economic stability and improved opportunities for youth.