During the June 27-28 visit of Vice President Mike Pence to Ecuador, the United States and Ecuador committed to expanded cooperation to advance mutual interests in democracy, prosperity, and security.
- Support for Venezuelan Migrants: The United States announced $8.1 million in new funding to the International Organization for Migration for assistance to Venezuelans in the region, including Ecuador. USAID/Food for Peace will provide $2 million in funding for programs in Ecuador to provide food assistance for Venezuelans and other vulnerable populations.
- Anti-Corruption Programs: The United States announced $1.3 million in funding from the State Department’s Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Bureau to support civil society, institution strengthening, and Ecuador’s participation in the Open Government Partnership.
- Container Security Initiative: The United States and Ecuador signed a Declaration of Principles incorporating Ecuador in the Container Security Initiative, which strengthens the security of supply chains between the United States and Ecuador to protect national security and facilitate trade.
- Law Enforcement Programs: The United States aims to provide up to $3.45 million in new funding for Ecuador from the State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau, pending the completion of Congressional notification requirements, for capacity-building and technical assistance programs to strengthen Ecuador’s criminal justice and law enforcement capabilities.
- JIATF – S: The United States and Ecuador signed a Memorandum of Understanding to place an Ecuadorian liaison officer at the Joint Interagency Task Force – South in Key West, Florida, to participate in efforts to detect, monitor, and interdict narcotrafficking.
- Security Cooperation: The Governments of Ecuador and the United States decided to resume bilateral military cooperation, training, and assistance to contribute to Ecuador’s ability to combat shared threats from transnational crime and humanitarian disasters.
- Global Materials Security: The United States and Ecuador signed a Memorandum of Understanding to protect radioactive sources used for medical, research, and commercial purposes and help to detect and deter trafficking of these materials.
- Cultural Patrimony Information-Sharing: The United States and Ecuador signed an information-sharing arrangement to assist in the protection of archaeological or ethnological material that is vulnerable to looting and illicit trafficking.
