Protect Ecuador–U.S. Security Cooperation: Reject a Blanket Suspension of Anti-Drug Assist
La causa
To the United States Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Defense:
We respectfully urge the United States Congress and the U.S. government to reject any blanket suspension of security assistance and cooperation with Ecuador that would undermine efforts to combat drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and the criminal networks threatening both Ecuadorian and American security.
On November 6, 2026, thirteen Democratic members of Congress urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend U.S. security assistance and military cooperation with the government of Ecuador, including joint operations.
We recognize that democracy, human rights, accountability, and the rule of law are essential values. Allegations of abuses must be investigated, and credible evidence must never be ignored. However, suspending broad security cooperation is not necessarily the most effective way to protect those values or the people of Ecuador.
Why this matters: Ecuador has become a critical transit point in international cocaine trafficking. Criminal organizations exploit the country's ports, transportation networks, and strategic position to move illicit drugs toward international markets.
These criminal networks threaten Ecuadorian communities through violence, extortion, corruption, intimidation, and the expansion of organized crime.
They also affect the United States through the international drug trade, criminal networks, and the wider regional security crisis.
The fight against these organizations requires intelligence sharing, law enforcement coordination, specialized training, investigative capabilities, and international cooperation.
Weakening these tools could create additional opportunities for criminal organizations to expand their operations.
Our concerns. We are concerned that a blanket suspension of security assistance could:
- Undermine cooperation against transnational drug trafficking organizations.
- Reduce intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
- Weaken Ecuador's ability to confront criminal organizations that operate across borders.
- Increase the risks faced by Ecuadorian civilians, law enforcement personnel, and communities affected by organized crime.
- Damage a bilateral security relationship that should serve the interests of both countries.
A policy that seeks to protect democracy must also consider the consequences of weakening the institutions and capabilities needed to protect citizens from organized criminal violence.
Our requests
We respectfully call on the United States Congress to:
1. Reject a blanket suspension of anti-drug security assistance to Ecuador. Preserve effective cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, including intelligence sharing, law enforcement coordination, training, and other lawful security assistance.
2. Maintain cooperation while strengthening accountability. Require appropriate safeguards, independent investigations of credible allegations of human rights violations, and transparent oversight of U.S.-supported activities.
3. Distinguish between security cooperation and political endorsement. Cooperation against organized crime should not be interpreted as unconditional support for any administration. It should be based on shared security interests, respect for the law, and measurable results.
4. Protect civilians and uphold human rights. Any credible allegations of unlawful killings, torture, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, or other serious abuses must be investigated impartially. Assistance should comply with applicable U.S. laws and human rights requirements.
5. Demand measurable results. U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities should report on the effectiveness of security cooperation, including its contribution to disrupting drug trafficking networks, strengthening investigations, protecting civilians, and reducing criminal violence.
6. Keep diplomatic channels open. Encourage dialogue between the United States and Ecuador to address concerns about democracy, human rights, and security without unnecessarily dismantling cooperation that protects both nations.
Our message to Congress:
"The people of Ecuador deserve democracy, justice, security, and the protection of their fundamental rights. They also deserve effective action against the criminal organizations that threaten their families, communities, businesses, and institutions.
These objectives should not be treated as mutually exclusive. We urge the United States Congress to reject a broad suspension of security cooperation and instead pursue a policy that combines effective anti-drug operations, human rights safeguards, transparency, and accountability.
Do not weaken the fight against transnational organized crime. Protect the people of Ecuador. Preserve responsible security cooperation between Ecuador and the United States.
We respectfully ask Congress to consider the voices of Ecuadorians, Ecuadorian-American communities, and all those who support a safer Ecuador and a stronger, accountable partnership with the United States".
Please support this petition and urge your representatives to defend responsible security cooperation with Ecuador.
31
La causa
To the United States Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Defense:
We respectfully urge the United States Congress and the U.S. government to reject any blanket suspension of security assistance and cooperation with Ecuador that would undermine efforts to combat drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and the criminal networks threatening both Ecuadorian and American security.
On November 6, 2026, thirteen Democratic members of Congress urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend U.S. security assistance and military cooperation with the government of Ecuador, including joint operations.
We recognize that democracy, human rights, accountability, and the rule of law are essential values. Allegations of abuses must be investigated, and credible evidence must never be ignored. However, suspending broad security cooperation is not necessarily the most effective way to protect those values or the people of Ecuador.
Why this matters: Ecuador has become a critical transit point in international cocaine trafficking. Criminal organizations exploit the country's ports, transportation networks, and strategic position to move illicit drugs toward international markets.
These criminal networks threaten Ecuadorian communities through violence, extortion, corruption, intimidation, and the expansion of organized crime.
They also affect the United States through the international drug trade, criminal networks, and the wider regional security crisis.
The fight against these organizations requires intelligence sharing, law enforcement coordination, specialized training, investigative capabilities, and international cooperation.
Weakening these tools could create additional opportunities for criminal organizations to expand their operations.
Our concerns. We are concerned that a blanket suspension of security assistance could:
- Undermine cooperation against transnational drug trafficking organizations.
- Reduce intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
- Weaken Ecuador's ability to confront criminal organizations that operate across borders.
- Increase the risks faced by Ecuadorian civilians, law enforcement personnel, and communities affected by organized crime.
- Damage a bilateral security relationship that should serve the interests of both countries.
A policy that seeks to protect democracy must also consider the consequences of weakening the institutions and capabilities needed to protect citizens from organized criminal violence.
Our requests
We respectfully call on the United States Congress to:
1. Reject a blanket suspension of anti-drug security assistance to Ecuador. Preserve effective cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, including intelligence sharing, law enforcement coordination, training, and other lawful security assistance.
2. Maintain cooperation while strengthening accountability. Require appropriate safeguards, independent investigations of credible allegations of human rights violations, and transparent oversight of U.S.-supported activities.
3. Distinguish between security cooperation and political endorsement. Cooperation against organized crime should not be interpreted as unconditional support for any administration. It should be based on shared security interests, respect for the law, and measurable results.
4. Protect civilians and uphold human rights. Any credible allegations of unlawful killings, torture, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, or other serious abuses must be investigated impartially. Assistance should comply with applicable U.S. laws and human rights requirements.
5. Demand measurable results. U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities should report on the effectiveness of security cooperation, including its contribution to disrupting drug trafficking networks, strengthening investigations, protecting civilians, and reducing criminal violence.
6. Keep diplomatic channels open. Encourage dialogue between the United States and Ecuador to address concerns about democracy, human rights, and security without unnecessarily dismantling cooperation that protects both nations.
Our message to Congress:
"The people of Ecuador deserve democracy, justice, security, and the protection of their fundamental rights. They also deserve effective action against the criminal organizations that threaten their families, communities, businesses, and institutions.
These objectives should not be treated as mutually exclusive. We urge the United States Congress to reject a broad suspension of security cooperation and instead pursue a policy that combines effective anti-drug operations, human rights safeguards, transparency, and accountability.
Do not weaken the fight against transnational organized crime. Protect the people of Ecuador. Preserve responsible security cooperation between Ecuador and the United States.
We respectfully ask Congress to consider the voices of Ecuadorians, Ecuadorian-American communities, and all those who support a safer Ecuador and a stronger, accountable partnership with the United States".
Please support this petition and urge your representatives to defend responsible security cooperation with Ecuador.
Actualizaciones de la petición
Compartir esta petición
Petición creada en 7 de noviembre de 2026