Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has announced a “strategic alliance” with Erik Prince, the founder of the contentious private defense contractor formerly known as Blackwater, to combat organized crime. This partnership is part of Noboa’s ongoing military operation targeting criminal groups throughout the nation.
Noboa shared a photo on social media showing him conversing with Prince against the backdrop of an Ecuadorian flag. “We have established a strategic alliance to strengthen our capabilities in the fight against narcoterrorism and protect our waters from illegal fishing,” he said, emphasizing, “There is no truce. There is no retreat. We are moving forward.” Specific details of the partnership have yet to be disclosed.
CNN has reached out to the Ecuadorian presidency and the Ministry of Defense for further information regarding the collaboration and any involvement of the Armed Forces. The announcement has sparked criticism, with former Army commander Luis Altamirano calling the alliance “deplorable.” He expressed concern over hiring a “mercenary army” and questioned the true intentions behind the arrangement.
Prince, whose controversial background includes founding Blackwater—infamous for the 2007 Nisour Square incident in Iraq, where 17 Iraqi civilians were killed—has gained notoriety in military circles. After selling the company in 2010, he now positions himself as an investor and leader in military reform.
In his post about the partnership, Noboa stated, “Organized crime has sown fear and believes it can operate with impunity. Their time is up. International aid begins in Ecuador.” Since early 2024, Noboa has led a nationwide crackdown on rising gang violence, which he has argued requires international support to address the security crisis fueled by local gangs linked to global drug cartels.
Ecuador currently faces the highest homicide rate in Latin America, with over 1,000 murders reported this year alone. During a radio interview, Noboa indicated that international assistance would be arriving soon, though he did not specify the sources or operational mechanisms of this support.
Credit: CNN
