AGP Executive Report

Terror Designation: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the “Los Tiguerones” gang as a foreign terrorist organization during a Quito visit, citing links to narcotrafficking and attacks on civilians, law enforcement, and journalists—including the 2024 takeover of a TV studio. Security Push: Rubio also pledged new U.S. commitments for Ecuador’s anti-narco fight, including a request for $45 million in support, a $10 million initiative targeting illegal gold mining and illicit finance, and delivery of a 110-foot Coast Guard cutter to strengthen maritime interdiction. US-Ecuador Operations: The visit comes alongside reports of U.S. sinkings of vessels in the Pacific tied to Ecuadorian criminal networks, with crews reportedly evacuated and later handed to Ecuador. Digital Media: Meta has started testing Community Notes in 16 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, including Ecuador, as it moves away from professional fact-checking. Sports (U-20 Women’s World Cup): Ecuador’s U-20 women beat Ghana in the opener, while France edged Ecuador 3-2 and Ghana bounced back with a 3-1 win over South Korea, setting up a crucial final group match. Culture/Business: Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell launched “Sonido Distrito Sur,” aiming to connect Ecuadorian artists to the global music industry.

US-Ecuador Maritime Clash: The U.S. Southern Command sank another Ecuadorian vessel in the Eastern Pacific, saying it was a floating refueling station tied to Los Choneros; crew were removed and transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, and Ecuador’s justice later moved to challenge detentions tied to earlier sinkings. Diplomacy & Trade: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off a three-nation tour with Colombia, pledging to “restore” ties after four years of leftist rule, and signed deals on critical minerals supply chains and civil nuclear cooperation—next stops are Ecuador and Peru. Climate Risk for Ecuador: A “super El Niño” threat is growing, with warnings of severe water stress and crop damage across Latin America, including Ecuador, raising food-security concerns for millions. Business/Mining: Lundin Gold says Ecuador’s tax authority issued a proposed $154M sovereign adjustment assessment for 2023 tied to its Fruta del Norte operation, while it insists operations continue normally. Sports (Ecuador-linked): Ecuador’s U-20 women beat Ghana 3-0 in the World Cup opener; Ecuador’s next matchups continue in Poland.

US-Led Regional Push: Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off a Colombia-Ecuador-Peru tour, aiming to lock in trade deals and deepen security cooperation with Trump-aligned leaders, including Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella and a push for Peru to join the “Shield of the Americas.” Anti-Drug Operations Near Ecuador: The U.S. says it sank an Ecuadorian vessel in the Eastern Pacific tied to Los Choneros, after removing crew and transferring them to Ecuador—part of a broader anti-drug campaign. Ecuador’s Amazon Forests: A new study finds Indigenous territories in Ecuador’s Amazon without formal conservation contracts can maintain forest conditions and even show strong greenness trends, challenging the idea that only protected areas work. El Niño Pressure: Reports highlight Ecuador’s growing risk of power shortages and early dry-season strain as El Niño intensifies across the region. Indigenous River Resistance: In Napo’s Capirona, an Indigenous community is using music to document mercury-tainted rivers from upstream gold mining and rally support for protecting territory. Sports & Culture: Ecuador’s football spotlight includes the U-20 Women’s World Cup fallout from Ecuador’s shock win over Ghana, while Ballon d’Or nominees were released with Lionel Messi among the men’s list.

U.S.-Ecuador anti-drug operations: The U.S. Southern Command says it has sunk another Ecuadorian vessel in the Eastern Pacific, alleging it acted as a “floating refueling station” for Los Choneros. Crews were removed and are expected to be transferred to Ecuador, with Ecuadorian officials not immediately commenting. Diplomacy and influence: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a three-country tour aimed at strengthening ties with Trump-aligned governments, starting in Colombia and set to include meetings in Ecuador with President Daniel Noboa. El Niño pressure on power: Ecuador is on early watch for power shortages as low Paute river flows and El Niño conditions raise electricity risks. Trade and consumer demand: Korean cosmetics imports into Ecuador doubled in a year after Expo Korea in Quito, with K-food exports also up sharply. Sports—U-20 Women’s World Cup: Ecuador beat Ghana 3-0 in the opener, putting Ghana under pressure ahead of its next matches. Business—mining update: Titan Minerals reports extended high-grade gold-silver results from its Dynasty Gold Project in southern Ecuador, feeding into a planned resource update and study.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Adoption Law: Ecuador’s new adoption reform bars single LGBTQ+ adopters and adds custody risk for parents who support trans children, taking effect Aug. 14 and drawing rights-group criticism. Drug War at Sea: A Manta judge demanded the Ecuador and U.S. governments justify recent sinkings of four Ecuadorian fishing boats after 28 crew were released; both sides cite anti-drug operations tied to Los Choneros. Economy Watch: Ecuador’s second-quarter exports hit a record $10.18B (oil and shrimp led), but imports rose faster, shrinking the trade surplus by 59% to about $770M. Road Safety Overhaul: The National Assembly approved a broad traffic-law rewrite covering delivery work, electric scooters, vehicle inspections, and radar contracts, now headed to the President. Diplomacy: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a Sept. 8–10 tour of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru focused on security cooperation and trade. Sports—U-20 Women’s World Cup: Ecuador beat Ghana 3-0 in the opener; Ghana coach Charles Sampson urged a quick rebound ahead of South Korea. Local Aviation: Cuenca targets a November launch of its first new international link to Chiclayo, Peru, using smaller aircraft due to runway limits. UNESCO Memory Register: Ecuador submitted nominations as part of the 2026 Call for UNESCO’s Memory of the World Regional Register for Latin America and the Caribbean.

El Niño Damage Watch: Ecuador’s Pacific coast is taking a beating as El Niño strengthens, with waves up to two meters eroding beaches and smashing seawalls and homes across Guayas, Santa Elena and Manabí, including major destruction at Playa Delfín. Drug War at Sea: U.S. Southern Command says it sank another vessel tied to Los Choneros in the Eastern Pacific and reports multiple interdictions in the same area, with crew transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Local Security & Justice: Ecuador’s synthetic-drug shift is raising alarms, with analysis pointing to growing MDMA and ketamine processing and the role of hard-to-police chemical precursors. Shrimp Industry: Ecuador’s shrimp sector is scaling up fast, with farms described as more like industrial outdoor plants, and shrimp now overtaking petroleum as the country’s top export commodity. Sports—Ecuador on the World Stage: Ecuador’s U-20 women opened with a 3-0 win over Ghana in Poland, while Leylah Fernandez—Ecuadorian-born—was eliminated from the US Open by Jessica Pegula. Health & Environment Research: Ecuadorian researchers developed cocoa-shell biochar that can remove loratadine from contaminated water, turning agricultural waste into a pollution-fighting material.

Electricity Watch: Ecuador faces a high risk of power shortages and service interruptions in 2026 as an asymmetrical El Niño pattern dries out the eastern watershed, threatening 33 hydro plants that make up 83% of the country’s hydraulic capacity. El Niño Explained: A quick guide to how El Niño works, why it warms the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, and how long it can last—plus what it means for rainfall and temperatures across the region. U-20 Women’s World Cup (Ecuador vs Ghana): Ecuador opened its campaign with a 3-0 win over Ghana’s Black Princesses in Poland, scoring early and adding two more after the break; Ghana now turns to matches against Korea Republic and France. US-Ecuador Maritime Security: U.S. forces boarded and sunk a vessel allegedly linked to Los Choneros near Ecuador, with crews removed and handed to Ecuadorian authorities. Adoption Reform Backlash: Ecuador’s new adoption law bars LGBTQ+ couples and adds custody risk for parents accused of “promoting” gender-affirming care for trans children, drawing criticism from rights groups.

El Niño & Power Security: Ecuador faces a high risk of electricity shortfalls in 2026 as an asymmetric El Niño pattern threatens the eastern watershed that feeds 33 hydro plants, which provide 83% of the country’s hydraulic capacity. Energy Links: Ecuador will join the Panama-Colombia electrical interconnection project, with leaders also discussing expanded trade and cooperation against organized crime and drug trafficking. Public Safety & Crime Perception: A new Ecuador survey by CIEES finds crime and insecurity are the top concern for 2,400 respondents, with many saying emergency measures are failing and that the Colombia-U.S. partnership won’t fix the problem. Human Rights at Sea: Ecuador-linked cases tied to U.S. anti-narco operations continue as 28 crew members released after habeas corpus proceedings arrive in Manta, while legal processes on responsibility remain ongoing. Agriculture & Exports: Ecuador’s deforestation-free coffee initiative moves beyond pilot stage, but farmers warn production challenges could affect scaling as EU rules tighten. Local Incident: A woman training for her first marathon was killed in Ecuador after being hit by a pickup truck; the driver fled.

Public Mood & El Niño Readiness: A new Ecuador survey says crime and insecurity are the top worry, with most people believing the government’s emergency approach isn’t working; Azuay has declared a “red alert” for El Niño impacts as preparations ramp up. Ecuador–US Security: Ecuador defended U.S. strikes that sank three vessels in the Eastern Pacific tied to alleged drug operations, saying the actions were part of joint investigations; relatives of detained crew dispute the claims, calling them fishermen. Trade & Agriculture: Ecuador’s deforestation-free coffee model is scaling beyond pilot work but faces production hurdles, while Ecuador banana exports are reported up 8.3% as demand shifts. International Diplomacy: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru to deepen cooperation on narcoterrorism and trade. Sports (Ecuador link): Ecuador’s Moisés Caicedo faces a late fitness test ahead of Chelsea’s Arsenal clash, and Ecuador is listed in Ghana’s U-20 Women’s World Cup group.

Anti-Drug Operations in Ecuador: Ecuador defended U.S. sinkings of three vessels in the Eastern Pacific, saying they were part of joint investigations targeting refueling points linked to the Los Choneros gang, while relatives of crew members disputed the claims and said some were fishermen. Diplomacy & Security: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a visit to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru next week to discuss disaster recovery, closer trade ties, and joint action against “narco-terrorism.” Education Watch: UNESCO is preparing to present ERCE 2025 results, a major regional assessment of student learning across Latin America and the Caribbean, with Ecuador among participating countries. Tech & Finance: UIN, a startup working across Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico, says its BehaviorOS platform analyzes hundreds of millions of transactions to drive recurring customer behavior for banks and fintechs. Environment & Biodiversity: A rare blue octopus has returned to the Galápagos after being identified from a specimen collected in 2015, with the Charles Darwin Research Station preserving it as an endemic species.

Maritime Security: Ecuador defended U.S. sinkings of three Ecuadorian vessels this week, saying they were tied to joint probes into Los Choneros drug trafficking and used as floating refueling stations in the Eastern Pacific. Diplomacy & Trade: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Sept. 8-10 to deepen cooperation on narcoterrorism and commerce. Public Safety & Mobility: Ecuador’s National Assembly approved major traffic-law changes, including new rules for motorcycle delivery services, photoradars, and helmet requirements for electric scooters and unicycles. Immigration Pressure: New York data shows ICE arrests have surged since Trump returned to office, with Port Chester highlighted as a standout hotspot. Local Accountability: Ecuadorian journalist Gisella Bayona says she quit after threats tied to her reporting on hospital medicine shortages. Sports (Ecuador angle): Chelsea faces a late fitness call on Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo ahead of Arsenal after another setback. Wildlife Crime: Police arrested a Russian woman at Quito airport for allegedly smuggling 32 Galápagos marine iguanas to Iceland.

Maritime Security: The U.S. and Ecuadorian forces sank a second “floating refueling station” tied to Los Choneros in the Eastern Pacific, cutting another logistics node after a similar interdiction the day before, with people aboard transferred to Ecuador. Violence in Ecuador: At least three people, including two minors, were killed and one woman injured in an armed attack in Ayangue, Santa Elena, as police said hooded attackers broke into a home and opened fire; the province remains under an emergency linked to organized crime. Courts & Corruption: Ecuador’s court issued an arrest warrant for former president Abdalá Bucaram after he missed a key hearing in the COVID-19 Tests case, while Lenín Moreno’s five-year bribery sentence is also being challenged. Global Climate Watch: The UN warns El Niño is already intensifying worldwide, with extreme weather risks rising as it persists through February. Diplomacy: Ecuador’s former foreign minister María Fernanda Espinosa is among leading candidates in the race to succeed UN chief António Guterres. Sports (Ecuador link): Ghana’s Black Princesses in Poland are set to open against Ecuador at the U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Courtroom Appeal: Ecuador’s ex-president Lenín Moreno and a former Chinese ambassador to Quito asked the country’s top court to spare them from five-year sentences tied to a US$76 million Sinohydro bribery scheme; Moreno remains free in Ecuador and argues he received no money, with judges set to rule Sept. 7. Drug-Trade Crackdown: The U.S. and Ecuadorian forces intercepted and sank another “floating refueling station” vessel in the eastern Pacific linked to Los Choneros, following a similar strike that destroyed a second gang-linked ship. El Niño Watch: Scientists warn this year’s El Niño is being supercharged by climate change, with anchovy disappearances off South America signaling major coastal impacts and wider drought/flood risks. Trade & Travel: ASUR completed a near-$1 billion airport acquisition expanding its reach to Ecuador’s Quito airport and adding Caribbean coverage, a move that could reshape regional tourism flows. Immigration & Deportations: A separate report notes 11 foreign nationals convicted and 24 deported in the Bahamas, including Ecuadorians, as enforcement actions continue.

U.S.-Ecuador Security: The U.S. and Ecuadorian forces boarded and sank a vessel in the Eastern Pacific described as a “floating refueling station” supporting Los Choneros, with crew transferred to Ecuador for processing. El Niño Watch: The UN warns a potentially record-breaking El Niño is intensifying fast, raising risks of extreme weather and major economic strain worldwide. Immigration Shock in Florida: A mother and daughter from Ecuador were arrested at a Central Florida hospital after a car crash, then self-deported; advocates denounce the hospital arrests. ICE Pressure in the U.S.: New reporting highlights ICE’s surge in arrests, including cases with no criminal record, as enforcement ramps up. Ecuador-linked Finance: Félix Pago raised $200M to expand WhatsApp-based cross-border transfers for Latinos, aiming to add lending and savings. Environment & Health: Research flags river dolphins in Ecuador’s Amazon as critically endangered, with threats potentially worse than in neighboring countries. Climate & Community: Indigenous women’s initiatives in Ecuador and beyond are pushing for more direct climate funding and stronger decision-making power.

Ecuador–U.S. Security: The U.S. and Colombia are moving ahead with a tougher military alliance aimed at Pacific drug routes and the Ecuador border, with operations focused on disrupting cartel-linked boats and networks. Ecuador–U.S. Accountability: UN human rights experts renewed calls to investigate U.S. boat strikes after the campaign’s first anniversary, saying the attacks have killed hundreds without due process and demanding accountability. Ecuador–Politics & Justice: An InSight Crime interview says Ecuador’s Villavicencio assassination trial could become a major test of whether the country can hold powerful backers accountable. Ecuador–Corruption Case: Ecuador’s former President Lenín Moreno was sentenced to five years over a bribery case tied to the Sinohydro dam contract, as the legal fallout continues. Ecuador–Crime & Borders: Reports also highlight ongoing cross-border cartel pressure in the region, with Ecuador increasingly pulled into wider security cooperation. Ecuador–Economy: Ecuador’s banana exports rose to 247.09 million boxes in Jan–July 2026, with the EU still the top destination despite July demand slowdowns. Ecuador–Environment: Ecuador’s El Niño alert is being raised as Pacific warming intensifies, with warnings of stronger impacts ahead.

U.S.-Ecuador Security: SOUTHCOM and Ecuador forces boarded and sank an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Pacific, part of a broader push against narco-trafficking boats. Sanctions Pressure on Ecuador: OFAC designated 15 Ecuador-linked individuals/entities and vessels tied to maritime cocaine networks tied to Los Choneros and other cartels, warning businesses to reassess sanctions risk. Public Health Crisis: Ecuador’s mobile health service is in “institutional collapse,” with over half of ambulances inoperable and hundreds of health workers missing, leaving rural and vulnerable communities without timely care. Wildlife Crackdown: Quito airport intercepted 32 illegal Galápagos marine iguanas bound for Iceland; authorities are investigating trafficking and arranging specialized care before possible return. Diplomacy in the Region: Qatar and Ecuador held a second round of political consultations in Doha, while Panama President José Raúl Mulino is set to visit Ecuador to discuss trade, investment, and security. Sports (Ecuador Connection): South Korea named former Spain coach Robert Moreno interim head coach; his first match will be against Ecuador on Sept. 24.