Ecuador’s Crime Crisis Sparks Call for Foreign Military Assistance

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, in the midst of a tight re-election campaign, has doubled down on his promises to crack down on drug cartels and organized crime. (Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on February 19 that it would seek military assistance through "cooperation agreements" with allied nations to curb a surge in violence attributed to drug cartels. However, officials did not specify which countries might be invited to send troops to the South American nation.

The announcement comes as incumbent right-wing President Daniel Noboa faces a tough re-election battle against left-wing challenger Luisa González, with both candidates securing 44% of the vote in February’s first-round election ahead of an April runoff. Political analysts suggest that the timing of Noboa’s announcement is no coincidence, as crime is a major issue in the race.

Ecuador’s homicide rate has soared in recent years, rising from 13.7 murders per 100,000 people in 2021 to 46.18 per 100,000 in 2023, before slightly declining to 36.18 last year. Yet, January 2025 marked the country’s deadliest month on record, with authorities reporting 731 homicides. Experts attribute the escalating violence to the growing presence of Colombian and Peruvian cocaine cartels, which have expanded operations in Ecuador by collaborating with local gangs.

Noboa, who won the presidency in 2023 in a snap election following the impeachment of then-President Guillermo Lasso on corruption charges, has made security a central pillar of his administration. His controversial crime-fighting measures include a military raid on the Mexican embassy in 2024, where Ecuadorian authorities illegally entered the diplomatic building to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, who sought refuge in the Mexican embassy, on corruption charges.

Historically, Latin America has been wary of foreign military intervention, particularly given past American anti-communist operations in the region. Ecuador itself expelled a U.S. Air Force base in 2009 over sovereignty concerns. However, attitudes may be shifting—an AtlasIntel poll indicates that a majority of voters in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia now support U.S. military intervention against drug cartels in their countries. Ecuador looks poised to follow this trend.

Noboa’s approach aligns with broader regional efforts to tackle organized crime. Haiti, for instance, has invited Kenyan peacekeepers to help fight local gangs, while El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has implemented sweeping judicial reforms, drawing criticism from human rights groups for allegedly eroding due process. While details remain unclear on how foreign troops would be deployed in Ecuador, early indications suggest they would take on defensive roles—protecting villages and gathering intelligence—rather than engaging in direct combat.

Whether Noboa’s announcement is a political maneuver to boost his poll numbers or a genuine effort to combat Ecuador’s violent gangs remains unclear. However, given the country’s escalating crime crisis, one thing is certain—change is needed, with or without foreign military intervention.