Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Unveils National Security Plan with US Support

U.S. South Command chief Francis L. Donovan attended a ceremony in Quito where President Daniel Noboa presented Executive Decree 448, launching the National Integrated Security Plan for 2025‑2029. The plan emphasizes international cooperation, cyber‑security capabilities and, for the first time, tackles the social drivers of crime, especially the recruitment of young people.

Donovan met Ecuador’s joint forces chief Henry Delgado Salvador, inspected military units and praised Ecuador as a key partner in the fight against narcotrafficking in the Americas. The plan does not set specific objectives or metrics. Police data shows individuals aged 12‑34 account for about 57 % of homicide victims, with homicides among 12‑17‑year‑olds rising 44 % from 2024‑2025. Record seizures of illegal firearms have risen 20.6 % in early 2026.