The government of Ecuador has taken another step in its effort to gain help from foreign military forces to combat drug cartels and various organized crime groups
Ecuador's government has moved to seek foreign military assistance to combat drug cartels and organized crime amid a surge in violent crime. President Daniel Noboa has instructed the foreign ministry to negotiate cooperation agreements with allied nations to deploy special forces temporarily to support Ecuadorian police and armed forces. The escalation in violence is linked to cocaine trafficking from neighboring Colombia and Peru, with Mexican, Colombian, and Balkan cartels operating in the country alongside local gangs. January saw Ecuador's deadliest month on record, with 731 homicides. The government aims to use foreign military aid for intelligence and maritime support rather than direct combat, according to security expert Mario Pazmiño.
