Senior anti-narcotics and diplomatic officials will also attend the visit to assist President Daniel Noboa, according to the Department of State (DOS).

A statement from DOS spokesman Matthew Miller referred to the “atrocious levels of violence and terrorism at the hands of narco-criminal elements that target innocent civilians.” “We will work with President Noboa to deepen our law enforcement cooperation through security assistance programs,” he said.

“Extremely concerned about the current violence and kidnappings in Ecuador,” the Undersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, wrote on X.

The official said that they are ready “to provide assistance to the Ecuadorian government and we will remain in close contact with the team of President @DanielNoboa,” he added.

Some observers warned that drug wars have failed in those countries where they were implemented. Expensive and deadly, they only left traumas and social pathologies in the region that were difficult to overcome.

jrr/llp/jha/dfm