Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa used his State of the Union speech to tout his United States-backed crime-fighting strategies as well as improvements to the economy, claiming decisive action against organized crime.

Addressing the National Assembly in Quito on Sunday, Noboa cited the extradition of a dozen crime bosses to the US and the seizure of almost 300 tonnes of drugs as examples of his effective approach. “We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” he said of wanted criminals, adding that the country cannot develop “if families live in fear.”

Organized crime remains the top concern for Ecuadorians after a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, the country has struggled to contain drug violence as rival cartels partner with local gangs for control of smuggling routes and ports. Last year, Ecuador recorded its highest homicide rate in decades, with about 50 murders per 100,000 residents.

In response, Noboa, re-elected last year, has used a state of exception to allow military involvement in crime-fighting, including joint patrols and warrantless searches. Earlier this year, Ecuador's military also conducted an operation with US forces against a training camp allegedly used by Colombian drug traffickers, using drones, helicopters, and boats.

However, Noboa's iron-fisted methods have drawn criticism from civil society groups, who say they have failed to reduce crime while endangering civilians. Glaedys Gonzalez, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, said Sunday that Noboa may have been optimistic, noting “progress on violence is far from being achieved.”

The speech also promoted economic progress, with Noboa claiming poverty dropped from 26% to 21.4% in 2025, and extreme poverty from 10.4% to 8.4%. Noboa was first elected in 2023 during a snap election triggered by the previous president's dissolution of the National Assembly.

Source: www.aljazeera.com