Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col. Devin T. Robinson has shared a summary of the recent U.S.-Ecuador Defense Bilateral Working Group meeting, which took place on November 4-5 at the Pentagon. The event was hosted by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Ms. Jana Nelson, and attended by Ecuadorian Minister of Defense Gian Carlo Loffredo Rendon.

The U.S. delegation comprised officials from various agencies, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, U.S. Southern Command, William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of State, and U.S. Embassy Quito.

Discussions centered around enhancing the bilateral defense relationship with a focus on countering threats from transnational criminal organizations and strengthening security cooperation and institutional capacity building. There was also an emphasis on expanding information sharing between the two nations.

The U.S.-Ecuador DBWG serves as a strategic platform to guide discussions on security cooperation and future collaboration efforts. Both parties agreed to maintain this dialogue annually to underscore their strong bilateral relationship and shared values.