U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Ecuador on September 21 and 22 to meet with top defense officials. During his stay in Quito, Admiral Holsey held discussions with Ecuador's Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo, Chief of the Joint Armed Forces Staff General Henry Delgado Salvador, and other senior military leaders. The meetings focused on security cooperation and efforts to counter criminal organizations.
Admiral Holsey also led a ceremony for the donation of a radar system from the United States to Ecuador. The new equipment is intended to improve Ecuador’s ability to monitor its airspace, aiming to detect and prevent illicit activities related to transnational criminal groups and narco-terrorist organizations.
The visit included the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Communications Information Security between the two countries. According to the statement, "This signing underscores the deep and enduring defense relationship between the two governments and will facilitate the secure exchange of information." Officials noted that this agreement builds on recent accords signed during high-level visits, highlighting ongoing collaboration for regional safety.
Earlier developments in bilateral cooperation include an administrative agreement reached in July during U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s visit, which established an exchange program for liaison officers as part of broader security efforts.
Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced nearly $20 million in support during his early September trip to Ecuador. This funding will go toward equipment procurement, capacity building initiatives such as drone acquisition, intelligence sharing programs, and training opportunities.