The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, met in New York with the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative, Kristi Noem, at the beginning of a new official visit to the United States focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation on security and expanding international support to combat organized crime operating in Ecuadorian territory.

According to the Presidency of Ecuador, the meeting was focused on strengthening coordination mechanisms between both countries and other strategic allies to confront transnational criminal organizations, considered by the Noboa government as one of the main threats to the stability of the country.

During the meeting, both delegations reviewed the progress of the Shield of the Americas program, an initiative promoted by President Donald Trump's administration to coordinate regional efforts against drug trafficking cartels, gangs and other organized crime structures. The mechanism currently brings together twelve countries from Latin America and the Caribbean that participate in joint security and cooperation actions.

Likewise, Noboa and Noem analyzed the possibilities of support derived from Executive Decree 424, signed on June 18, through which the Ecuadorian government established a legal framework that allows receiving international assistance to confront the internal armed conflict declared against criminal organizations.

The decree opens the door to greater international cooperation

According to the Ecuadorian Executive, the decree authorizes coordination between the Armed Forces, the National Police and the cooperating States to carry out operations aimed at protecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security against criminal groups. The regulations also contemplate legal benefits for military, police and civilians who participate in operations related to the internal armed conflict, including the possibility of pardons, reduction or commutation of sentences under certain circumstances.

Furthermore, the document establishes that foreign personnel belonging to cooperating countries who participate in these actions may have immunity in accordance with the international treaties and agreements signed by Ecuador.

The Presidency indicated that the objective is to strengthen the capabilities of the State through greater collaboration with allied governments and international organizations to contain the advance of organized crime.

Security dominates Noboa's agenda in the United States

The meeting with Noem occurs just a few days after Noboa's visit to Washington, where he held meetings with the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, at the Pentagon, as well as with Stephen Miller, White House National Security Advisor.

These meetings were also aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational criminal networks, considered by both governments as a regional threat.

In addition to the official meetings, the Ecuadorian president's agenda in New York includes meetings with members of the Ecuadorian migrant community and with potential investors interested in strategic projects for Ecuador.

The trip represents Noboa's fourth official visit to the United States so far this year and reflects the priority his administration has placed on international cooperation as part of its security strategy. The diplomatic offensive occurs as Ecuador continues to face a serious crisis of violence. Since 2024, the country remains under the declaration of internal armed conflict and has maintained successive states of exception to combat more than twenty criminal organizations linked mainly to drug trafficking.

Despite these measures, official figures show that 2025 closed as the most violent year in the country's recent history, with 9,235 homicides recorded, which maintains pressure on the Noboa government to strengthen international alliances and expand security cooperation.