Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa is seeking foreign military assistance to combat drug cartels and organized crime, ordering the foreign ministry to negotiate agreements with allied nations for temporary special forces support. The surge in violence is linked to cocaine trafficking from Colombia and Peru, with international cartels operating in Ecuador alongside local gangs. While the homicide rate decreased under Noboa, it remains significantly higher than pre-2020 levels, with January marking a record-high 731 homicides. Noboa also seeks constitutional reforms to allow foreign military bases, a measure supported by Ecuador’s Constitutional Court but requiring legislative and public approval. The U.S. previously operated a military base in Ecuador until 2009, when then-President Rafael Correa ended the agreement. Security experts suggest Noboa’s plan focuses on intelligence and maritime operations rather than direct combat. The initiative faces political challenges as Noboa navigates an opposition-controlled National Assembly.