https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/12/ecuador-president-blackwater-alliance
Ecuador had been part of the so-called Pink Tide of Latin American nations that had turned turned to Left-wing governments during the George Bush era. The term of Rafael Correa (2007-2017) came to symbolize this era for Ecuador. After Correa departed office, his party continued holding power but the shift was underway. By 2021 a conservative (and pro-Washington) president was in power but his tenure was marked by controversy, corruption, and ultimately collapse.
American alarm at Chinese influence coincided with a spike in drug gang activity and organized crime. As I expressed in an earlier piece, it's hard not to be a little cynical about the timing of all this.
Many have also pointed to an 'Ecuadorian Project' in response to political losses in neighbouring Colombia, long the most loyal and solid of Washington's South American client states. While the situation in Colombia remains in flux, the United States has worked to influence Ecuadorian politics leading to the snap election of Noboa at the end of 2023 - a truncated term that would complete the outgoing Lasso's tenure.
2024 was marked by gang violence and dramatic attacks leading Noboa to declare a state of emergency - which some saw as a trial run for his authoritarian agenda. He also raised eyebrows when he sanctioned a police raid on the Mexican embassy in which a rival politician given asylum was forcibly seized.
Noboa ran for a full term in April 2025 and won - despite claims of electoral fraud and the fact that he has militarized the country leading to fear and intimidation and thus a drop in turnout. He continues to renew the state of emergency and has the country under curfew. There are numerous reports of 'disappeared' persons and the like.
Inaugurated in May of 2025, Noboa has approached Trump about bringing US forces to Ecuador and seems to be fully on board with the Trumpite agenda. He has reportedly entered into negotiations with Erik Prince as well. American born and educated, Noboa is in keeping with El Salvador's Bukele and Washington's regional strategy to crush Left-wing movements and use authoritarian rule to force China's retreat in terms of economic influence and to deny Beijing access to its oil and other resources. Scion of a billionaire family (probably the wealthiest in Ecuador), his father's corporate interests are marked by scandal and corruption. He is the candidate of choice for both the Pentagon and Wall Street. The White House will happily provide cover for his corruption and his violent authoritarian rule.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2024/09/china-monroe-doctrine-and-american.html
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