International
The Government of Ecuador proposes the temporary entry of foreign forces to combat insecurity
The Government of Ecuador, led by Daniel Noboa, is considering the temporary entry into the country of international special forces to strengthen the fight against transnational organized crime and insecurity, the National Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency reported on Wednesday.
In a statement, he pointed out that the Government proposes, “temporarily and in the context of the declared war against narcoterrorism, the incorporation of special forces from allied countries to support and enhance the actions of the Armed Forces and the National Police.”
“Mafias and drug trafficking operate on international networks, so it is necessary to act together to fight them more effectively,” he said.
In that sense, Noboa ordered the Foreign Ministry that, “respecting the constitutional framework and using the corresponding diplomatic channels,” make the approaches to coordinate efforts and establish cooperation agreements for this objective against insecurity in Ecuador.
The letter does not detail which nations the approaches will be made.
“Confronting a common enemy – the mafias and organized crime – requires unity and firm decisions. This proposal, along with other actions led by the government (…), seeks to strengthen the security of the country,” he says.
In that context, it urges the National Assembly to pronounce on this and other initiatives, such as the partial reform of article 5 of the Constitution that seeks to eliminate the prohibition on the establishment of foreign military bases in the country.
Last October, Noboa sent the draft constitutional reform to the National Assembly to open the door to the re-establishment of foreign military bases in Ecuador, prohibited by the Constitution promulgated during the mandate of former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017), which forced the United States to leave the Manta base in 2009.
Noboa had already announced last September its intention to promote that constitutional reform to allow the installation of foreign permanent military bases again, as part of its actions in the “internal armed conflict” it declared in January 2024 against organized crime.
The National Assembly must process the constitutional reform project, which, if approved, must be endorsed in a referendum.
The Presidency assured in October that it had the favorable resolution of the Constitutional Court so that this change in the Magna Carta is processed as a partial reform, considering the court that it does not restrict constitutional rights and guarantees, but refers only to insecurity in Ecuador.
Ecuador and the United States currently maintain maritime cooperation agreements for the capture of vessels that transport large amounts of cocaine from the Ecuadorian coast to North America and Europe.
Some of these prohibitions have been carried out by the United States Coast Guard in international waters, to later hand over the detainees and narcotics to the Ecuadorian authorities within their jurisdictional waters, according to the Ecuadorian Navy.
Likewise, both countries also signed last year a commitment act for the delivery to Ecuador of two patrol boats 33.5 meters long of the
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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