#Narcotrafico

Ecuador: Military and Paramilitary Forces — The Armed Forces, Narcotráfico, and the Northern Border

This article investigates the national security crisis in Ecuador and its profound economic and geopolitical implications. It examines the structure of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and their evolving role in domestic counter-terrorism following the 2024 declaration of internal armed conflict. It also analyzes the defense economics of funding this militarized campaign, the spillover of transnational drug cartels from the northern border, and the role of international security cooperation.