'This is how we revitalize our country' explain Ecuador's Daniel Noboa just finalized a trade deal with the United States last month.
Noboa is eager to show that Ecuador's internal armed conflict does not occupy his attention as he embarks on a blitz of trade deals almost a year into his re-election. On Tuesday, the United States also announced it had begun a joint military operation with Ecuador to combat drug trafficking in the country.
On Monday, the Ecuadorian delegation sign Agreement worth $3 billion with the United Arab Emirates. In January this year, Ecuador became the first country to sign a sustainable investment agreement with the European Union.
Joselo Andrade Rada, executive director of the Ecuadorian Institute of Political Economy, said latin america report Noboa's focus on international trade deals is slowly opening the Ecuadorian economy to foreign investment, marking “the beginning of Ecuador's economic recovery.”
Noboa's grand plan
As gruesome gang-related murders and street violence dominate headlines, Noboa's series of trade deals seek to reshape the country's image abroad.
Andrade added: “If we start to show signs of change — political stability, boosting economic growth, becoming more integrated with the world — and improving our perceptions, then it’s possible for this country to make progress.”
But a trade deal can only take the Andean nation's finances so far. During his re-election campaign, Noboa promised comprehensive economic progress.
He promised to provide young people with wider access to university, jobs and career opportunities. He promised more financial support for young families and a restructuring of Ecuador's shabby health care system.
To boost the economy, Noboa pledged to increase investment in oil exploration, mining and nuclear power. As the anniversary of his re-election approaches, many of those promises remain unfulfilled.
Not up to standard
The president's critics have pointed to shortcomings in his health care system, opportunities for young people and energy strategy.
In recent weeks, a photo Healthcare system in crisis The news was front-page news in Ecuadorian newspapers as a financial shortfall of more than 100% left hospitals under-equipped and under-staffed. more than 3,500 newly qualified doctors Working, no regular income.
Sergio Ruiz, president of an Ecuadorian think tank, described Noboa's commitment to young people as a “short-term solution” that “will drain public finances.” Ruiz said government-sponsored job programs such as a commitment unveiled on Feb. 26 Provide 160,000 jobs for people under the age of 29repeatedly failed due to short-term contracts.
Since then, dissatisfied with both informal labor and short-term formal employment, young people have been vulnerable to the lure of criminal groups, which he suggests promise more attractive incomes and job security.
“The government is not thinking about preventing crime by providing alternatives for young people and students. They are not providing educational, sporting, cultural or employment opportunities to stop young people being lured into gangs,” Ruiz said.
Progress on the construction of Ecuador's first nuclear reactor has stalled since the organization to implement the new nuclear strategy was formed in December. Andrade believes that the realization of any nuclear industry is “very far away because of the numerous difficulties Ecuador has encountered trying something so destructive.” Instead, Andrade believes Noboa should focus on oil exploration, which he describes as the country's “main source of stability, growth and foreign investment.”
Andrade said reversing stalled progress in these policy areas would be “a product and consequence” of addressing the economy's structural weaknesses, a difficult task that cannot be solved by international trade agreements alone.
“We need labor reform, pension reform, reducing the size of the state and its spending. We need financial reform so that Ecuador can fully integrate into the global financial system,” Andrade said.
Armed conflict dominates
Despite strengthening macroeconomic indicators, Ruiz said the positive economic changes “cannot be felt in people's daily lives.” In fact, the economy consistently ranks as a priority issue in opinion polls, being overtaken by internal armed conflict, security and crime.
ThinkTank describes 2025 as Ecuador’s most violent year on record, with more than 9,000 violent deaths recorded. “As long as people feel they are victims of violence, extortion, kidnapping, people are reluctant to say they feel better under Noboa,” Ruiz said.
On Monday, the Noboa government issue decree He announced that the armed conflict was entering the “next phase”, which includes increased police activity with greater involvement from neighboring countries, the imposition of a two-week curfew in four provinces and the extension of a state of emergency in nine provinces. Ecuador's interior minister told people: “Stay home. We are at war.”
Late Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command announced they had begun military operations with Ecuadorian forces inside the country.
Combating organized crime is a major focus of the government, and its clear, organized narrative against criminal gangs won Noboa's support. Andrade said that besides security, the lack of focus and narrative on the economy was “the most important issue facing the government.”
“It's not clear where the government is trying to go, or what the country's North Star is.”
Signing trade deals and shaking hands with global leaders may make Noboa's Instagram feed look glamorous, but as the president's attention is diverted by escalating violence, a focus on tangible economic improvements has been overlooked.
Featured image: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signs the trade deal with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammed Al Nahya.
Photo credit: Daniel Noboa Instagram
