Quito, September 14, 2021. Admiral Craig S. Faller, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, visited Ecuador today to sign the Cooperative Situational Information Integration System (CSII), a regional information-sharing memorandum of understanding to combat narcotrafficking by facilitating the timely sharing of suspected illicit trafficking activities. The memorandum of understanding will help increase Ecuadorian security and also supports Ecuador’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and disaster relief.
During the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Defense, Admiral Faller underscored that this agreement is part of a regional effort to combat transnational crime. “This system, in which many of Ecuador’s neighbors participate, enables countries to share information to combat narcotrafficking and provide data that can be used to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, among other priorities. Information sharing initiatives such as the Cooperative Situational Information Integration System enable the United States and Ecuador to work together to make our countries and the entire region safer,” said Admiral Faller.
As part of his agenda, Admiral Faller met with Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Fernando Donoso to discuss the longstanding security cooperation between the United States and Ecuador. He also met with the Chief of Defense Jorge Cabrera and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces. Admiral Faller’s visit demonstrates ongoing U.S.-Ecuador security cooperation and reaffirms the commitment of both nations to combat drug trafficking and provide humanitarian assistance.
The United States and Ecuador enjoy a long history of security cooperation focused on topics of mutual interest, including air and maritime security; combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; fighting transnational organized crime; and providing humanitarian assistance. Since the reopening of the Office of Security Cooperation in 2018, the U.S. Mission has delivered over $2.8 million in humanitarian assistance, $1.4 million in military training, and $27.7 million in equipment and support to Ecuadorian counterparts to combat illicit operations and strengthen Ecuador’s defense.
SOUTHCOM is one of the Department of Defense’s six geographically focused unified commands with responsibility for U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, as well as security cooperation with defense and public-security forces in the region.
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