On Tuesday, Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo and U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) Commander Gen. Francis Donovan held a meeting to discuss the “strengthening of joint actions against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.”
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“This alliance allows us to add capabilities, intelligence and cooperation to hit the mafias harder and protect those who matter most: our families,” Ecuadorian authorities said.
The meeting, held in Quito and also attended by Ecuadorian Armed Forces Joint Command chief Gen. Henry Delgado, took place two weeks after SouthCom launched the Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force with the 18 countries that make up the Coalition Against the Cartels of the Americas.
In March, Ecuador joined the coalition, also known as the Americas Shield, an alliance promoted by the United States with several countries in the region to supposedly strengthen cooperation on security and the fight against transnational organized crime.
The Andean country has maintained an “internal armed conflict” since January 2024, declared by President Daniel Noboa against drug trafficking gangs that he labels as “terrorists.”
Ecuador Regulates Entry of U.S. Military Personnel and Contractors
On Tuesday, Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg published an agreement establishing procedures for the entry, registration and temporary stay in the Andean country of U.S. military personnel, civilian employees of the Department of Defense and U.S. contractors.
The text establishes that U.S. personnel covered by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) will be registered under the designation of ‘Acts of Commerce and Activities,’ with SOFA listed as the purpose of travel.
Ecuador will allow U.S. military personnel a maximum temporary stay of 180 days, nonrenewable, which may include multiple entries over the course of one year.
To use this procedure, applicants may present a valid passport or valid identification issued by the United States, in addition to a movement order from the U.S. Department of Defense.
U.S. personnel will not be subject to sanctions or other administrative actions of an immigration nature while they remain lawfully in Ecuadorian territory.
The SOFA was signed by Ecuador and the United States on Oct. 6, 2023, and ratified by then-President Guillermo Lasso in February 2024.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
Source: teleSUR
