AGP Executive Report

Colombia Security Shift: Conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella is set to be sworn in as Colombia’s president Friday in Cali under heavy security, signaling a hard line on illegal armed groups and a break from the prior peace approach. Ecuador-Argentina Cooperation: Ecuador and Argentina signed six agreements in Quito covering cyberdefense, extradition, and anti–illegal fishing, with Noboa and Milei also reaffirming support on the Malvinas dispute. Ecuador Trade Watch: Ecuador’s banana exports rose 5.5% in H1 2026 to over 210 million boxes, led by the EU and Russia, though El Niño-linked heavy rains remain a risk. Crime Crackdown Linked to Ecuador: Spain and Ecuador dismantled a cocaine network using banana shipments, arresting 44 suspects and seizing 21 tons of cocaine. El Niño Jobs Warning: The ILO warns the 2026–2027 El Niño could hit vulnerable workers across Latin America and the Caribbean, worsening incomes and working conditions. Sports Spotlight (Ecuador): Ecuador’s Belsy Jennifer Quiñonez won silver in the women’s shot put at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon.

Ecuador-Argentina Trade & Security: President Javier Milei met Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa in Quito and signed new automotive agreements that cut Argentine vehicle tariffs to 10% from 28%, eliminate duties on electric and hybrid cars, and set auto parts at 0%, while both sides also moved to update a decades-old extradition treaty to better tackle organized crime. Terror Designation: Argentina declared the Ecuador-linked gang “Chone Killers” a terrorist organization, adding it to its terrorism-linked public register as part of Milei’s regional push against transnational crime. Quito Crime Response: Ecuador’s Noboa deployed 4,000 police and military personnel to Quito to respond to a recent crime wave. Mining & Energy Watch: Atico Mining reported Q2 output of 2.08 million pounds of copper and 1,465 ounces of gold from El Roble, while Atico’s and other regional deals keep attention on Ecuador-linked extractives. Street Life: Ecuadorian street food vending is expanding in the U.S., with vendors bringing cevichochos to new neighborhoods. Climate Risk: UN warns intensifying El Niño could drive acute hunger for tens of millions, with Ecuador among the region facing knock-on impacts.

Drug War: Spain and Ecuador dismantled a cocaine trafficking network, arresting 44 suspects and seizing 21 tonnes of cocaine in a case tied to Dubai-based investors and shipments routed through Ecuador’s ports. Local Justice: An Ecuadorian court sentenced Héctor Oswaldo V. Ch. to 26 years for the femicide of his mother after he struck her with a rock in Santo Domingo in 2025. Diplomacy & Courts: Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, criticized the ICC and ICJ during a Quito visit, arguing the cases against Israeli leaders are driven by political agendas. Security Planning: Colombia’s outgoing defence minister warned of possible “acts of terrorism” ahead of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration in Cali, with major troop deployments and a drone no-fly zone. Energy & Business: Gran Tierra Energy agreed to sell its Colombia and Ecuador oil assets to Maurel & Prom for $1.33bn, covering producing fields and reserves. Health Policy: Ecuador’s health system faces supply shortages as kidney patients protest in Quito.

Security & Diplomacy: Argentina’s Milei is in Ecuador for talks with President Daniel Noboa, with agreements on security, cyber defense, air services, nuclear cooperation, extradition and auto trade on the agenda. International Justice: Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, used a Quito stop to attack the ICC and ICJ over cases involving Israeli leaders, calling them politically driven. Crime Crackdown: Spain and Ecuador coordinated raids that led to 44 arrests and the seizure of 21 tonnes of cocaine, hidden in shipping containers and routed via Guayaquil. Local Public Safety: Ecuador’s health system faces supply shortages as kidney patients protest in Quito. Economy & Energy: Gran Tierra Energy agreed to sell its Colombia and Ecuador oil operations to Maurel & Prom for $1.33B, as the company reports strong Q2 results. Weather & Work: The ILO warns El Niño 2026–27 could disrupt jobs and livelihoods across Latin America and the Caribbean, especially for outdoor and informal workers.

Crime Crackdown: Spain and Ecuador say they dismantled a cocaine smuggling ring financed by Dubai investors, making 44 arrests and seizing 21 tons of cocaine, with drugs allegedly hidden in commercial shipments from Guayaquil. Public Safety: Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has deployed 4,000 police and military personnel to Quito amid a recent crime wave, as questions grow over how to curb violence. Environment & Enforcement: A five-country Amazon operation, including Ecuador, reports 839 arrests and major seizures of illegal timber, minerals, and wildlife, targeting mining, logging, trafficking, and land grabbing. Economy & Trade: Unacem reports higher Q1 revenue across Peru and Ecuador despite a drop in EBITDA, pointing to resilience but also cost and power disruptions. Sports (Ecuador in focus): South Korea will host Ecuador in September friendlies, with matches set for Sept. 24 and then Uruguay four days later. Climate & Work: The ILO warns El Niño could disrupt jobs and livelihoods across Latin America and the Caribbean, hitting informal and outdoor workers hardest.

Quito Security Push: President Daniel Noboa ordered 4,000 more police and military personnel to Quito under a “Quito Protection Plan,” aiming to blunt a recent crime wave blamed on gangs, with extra patrols at metro stations, bus stops, markets, banks and schools. Ecuador Payments Upgrade: The Central Bank says it’s rapidly building an instant payment system like Brazil’s Pix, enabling 24/7 transfers between people, businesses and banks with similar efficiency but tailored controls for Ecuador’s dollarized economy. Amazon Environmental Crackdown: UAE-led Operation Green Shield 2026, involving Ecuador and four other Amazon countries, carried out 1,045 field actions, arresting 839 suspects and seizing over $280 million in illegal-mining, logging and wildlife-trafficking assets. Crime Boss Strategy Debate: Ecuador’s capture of alleged gang leader “Pipo” highlights the debate over whether kingpin arrests weaken organized crime or just fragment it into more violent factions. Mining Reset Watch: A mining-focused report points to Ecuador’s “mining reset” opening doors for investors, including fee exemptions and project valuation updates.

Amazon Enforcement: UAE-led Operation Green Shield 2026 wrapped up with 839 arrests and more than $280 million in seized assets across the Amazon, targeting illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, fuel smuggling and land grabbing, with Ecuador among the participating countries. Payments Modernization: Ecuador’s Central Bank says it’s rapidly building an instant payment system like Brazil’s Pix, aiming for 24/7 interoperable transfers while noting Ecuador’s dollarized economy needs special controls. Local Justice in Guayaquil: A court sentenced Guayaquil mayor Aquiles Álvarez to three years in prison for removing an electronic ankle monitor, adding a fine and ordering a public apology. Human Rights Watch: Activists and human rights groups told the IACHR they face systematic racial profiling in Ecuador’s security operations, citing a violent police attack on activist Jimmy Ocles. Quito Security: President Daniel Noboa ordered 4,000 agents and military personnel to help shield Quito.

Security in Quito: President Daniel Noboa announced the “Quito Protection Plan,” deploying 4,000 police and military to the capital during peak hours, with patrols, drones, and tighter entry controls aimed at curbing gang-linked violence. Power and governance: Noboa says Ecuador will enter the next dry season without new floating power plants, while separate reporting digs into the alleged Progen scheme that turned the 2024 electricity crisis into a $110 million scandal. Climate pressure: A climatologist warns Guayaquil heat waves have surged nearly 400% since the 1980s, with El Niño potentially worsening both drought and extreme heat. Business and competition: Ecuador’s competition regulator approved Santa Priscila’s acquisition of assets from Ecuaprotein, a move tied to shrimp and fish hydrolysate production. Sports pipeline: FIBA confirmed Ecuador’s youth teams for the 2027 AmeriCup qualifiers in Chile (men) and Venezuela (women). Church and youth: Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to Ecuadorian Catholics ahead of National Youth Day in Ibarra.

Ecuador–Foreign Affairs: Ukraine says it will open an embassy in Ecuador and will now name an ambassador, signaling deeper diplomatic ties. Energy & Environment: Amnesty International is urging Ecuador to fully comply with a 2021 court ruling to eliminate gas flares near populated areas in the Amazon and to provide reparations to affected communities. Trade & Ports: ICTSI reported strong first-half 2026 results, with revenue up 27% and container volumes up 16%, boosted by new terminals in South Africa and Indonesia. UN Diplomacy: A leaked UN Security Council straw poll put UN trade chief Rebeca Grynspan and Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett among the frontrunners to replace António Guterres as secretary-general. Quito/Local Interest: Bombardier says its Challenger 3500 will be showcased at LABACE and that the tour includes stops in Guayaquil and Quito. Science & Space: Ecuadorian researchers were selected for an ESA/UNOOSA-linked project studying how hypergravity affects cement for future planetary infrastructure.

Ecuador in the spotlight: Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés remains in the running for UN secretary-general after the Security Council’s first informal straw poll, where Rebeca Grynspan led and Espinosa placed mid-pack—showing how Ecuador’s diplomacy is still shaping global leadership talks. Regional security drills: Ecuadorian naval units are participating in Panamax 2026, a multinational exercise to protect the Panama Canal, with patrols and interdiction maneuvers alongside forces from Colombia, the U.S., Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. Sports leadership in Ecuador: Olympic race-walking champion Jefferson Pérez took over as president of Ecuador’s Olympic Committee as part of an institutional restructuring with the IOC, aiming to restore governance after a crisis. Science and space: An Ecuadorian research team won a space scholarship from UNOOSA and ESA, studying how hypergravity affects cement materials—work aimed at stronger infrastructure on Earth and beyond. Politics across Latin America: Brazil’s Lula confirmed his Workers’ Party reelection bid at 80, warning about foreign pressure and arguing for sovereignty over rare minerals—an election he says will shape the region.

Ecuador Finance/IMF: Ecuador’s Finance Ministry is reportedly negotiating a new $1.3 billion IMF loan for El Niño damage relief, despite President Daniel Noboa saying the country would seek other sources if needed; the developing El Niño could bring major coastal flooding later this year. Ecuador Security/Justice: Ecuador recorded 3,909 disappearance reports in the first half of 2026, up 2.8% year-on-year, as experts urge faster search protocols and a review of security policies amid rising violence. Ecuador Politics: Analysts say President Daniel Noboa is pushing a “semi-dictatorship” strategy ahead of the Nov. 29 local elections by sidelining opponents rather than winning through votes. Ecuador Sports/COE: Olympic race-walking champion Jefferson Pérez took over as president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee as part of an IOC-backed restructuring after an institutional crisis. Volcano Watch: Reventador remains active, with a fresh VAAC ash advisory issued for Ecuador. UN Diplomacy: The UN’s secretary-general race moves forward with an informal straw poll, with Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa among the candidates.

Ecuador Security & Justice: Ecuador’s Interior Ministry data show 3,909 disappearance reports in the first half of 2026, up 2.8% year-on-year, as rights groups and lawmakers push for faster search protocols and a rethink of security policies amid escalating violence. Ecuador Politics: A new report says President Daniel Noboa is using a “semi-dictatorship” approach ahead of the Nov. 29 local elections, aiming to weaken opponents by removing parties and candidates rather than winning purely through votes. Ecuador Economy: Ecuador’s Finance Ministry is reportedly negotiating a $1.3 billion IMF loan for El Niño damage relief, even as President Noboa previously said new IMF funding would not be sought. Volcano Watch (Quito region): Ecuador’s Reventador volcano advisory warns of volcanic ash from the VONA report, with forecasts indicating ash movement and no ash expected after 18 hours. Regional Crime Cooperation: Peru’s Keiko Fujimori says she told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Peru wants to join Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” anti-crime coalition, signaling deeper regional security coordination.

UN Politics: Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa is trailing in the UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll to replace António Guterres, with early frontrunner Rebeca Grynspan leading and Espinosa at five votes of support. Ecuador Elections: Ecuador’s National Electoral Council (CNE) has set local elections for Nov. 29, approving the CPCCS vote too, with 13.8 million voters choosing prefects, mayors, and council members. El Niño & Finance: Ecuador’s Finance Ministry is reportedly negotiating a $1.3 billion IMF loan for El Niño damage relief, even as President Daniel Noboa says the budget is covered and any extra funding would come from other sources. Security & Justice: Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg was shot during an anti-drug operation in Esmeraldas; a suspect was arrested along with others, including a police officer. Galápagos Wildlife: Rare hammerhead sharks were rediscovered near the Galápagos after a 20-year absence, and a viral clip shows hammerheads bolting when orcas appear.

Security Crackdown in Ecuador: Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg was shot at during an anti-drug operation in Esmeraldas; the suspect Patricia Espinisa (“Lili”) was arrested, along with 10 others, including a police officer accused of helping the gang. Anti-Drug Tech Push: Ecuadorian police say drones are giving them the “upper hand,” helping track gangs and cocaine routes and leading to arrests of Los Lobos/Los Choneros members. Climate Watch for Ecuador: Latin America is preparing for a “Super El Niño,” with emergency plans activated in countries including Ecuador as flooding and drought risks intensify. Trade & Logistics: Maersk is expanding its West Coast Shuttle to connect Mexico, Panama and Ecuador, with a new three-vessel network starting in September from Posorja. World Cup Fallout: FIFA’s new red-card rule for players covering their mouths has already hit Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié in the 2026 knockout stage. Regional Justice Tech: Quito hosted coverage of an Inter-American summit on public defenders using AI to improve access to justice, with the Dominican Republic leading discussions.

UN Diplomacy: The UN Security Council kicked off secret straw polls to gauge support for seven candidates to replace António Guterres, with Rebecca Grynspan leading in the first round and Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa also in the race. Ecuador Security & Drugs: A multinational operation seized 1.36 tonnes of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific and arrested two Ecuadorian nationals, after a U.S. patrol spotted a “go-fast” vessel west of Salinas. Quito/Environment & Research: Spanish and Ecuadorian teams are teaming up to protect wildlife across the Galápagos and the Amazon, including a necropsy lab near the Galápagos National Park to track why species are dying. Trade & Shipping: Maersk is expanding its shuttle network on the west coast of Latin America, adding Mexico–Panama–Ecuador links with a new service launching in September. Ecuador Economy/Exports: EU fruit imports hit $77.42B in 2025, with bananas and Ecuador highlighted among key suppliers.

UN Diplomacy: The UN Security Council kicked off the race to replace António Guterres with its first secret straw poll for seven secretary-general candidates, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan leading on “encourage” votes, followed by Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, while results stay closed-door. Ecuador Politics: A new report says Ecuador’s elections are being shaped by Noboa’s “ballot-free path to power,” including moves that suspend or remove opposition groups from the political registry ahead of the November 29 local vote. Volcano Watch (Ecuador): Reventador remains under Orange Alert as ash plumes and light volcanic activity continue, with aviation advisories issued for the area. Trade & Development: Canada announced a strategic exports office to help diversify trade beyond the US, and a Canada-funded conservation push backed gender and community leadership across biodiversity hotspots that include Ecuador. Regional Security: Panamax 2026 is underway in Panama with about 500 special forces personnel already arrived from multiple countries, including Ecuador.