[비즈한국] Ecuador, currently pursuing maritime security and defense cooperation with South Korea, will visit the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX) this coming May. Following the declaration of an internal armed conflict, the Ecuadorian naval delegation, which is pushing for full-scale military modernization and force reinforcement, plans to examine South Korean weapon systems through business meetings during the exhibition.
According to the defense industry on the 15th, an Ecuadorian naval delegation is scheduled to participate in the MADEX exhibition held at BEXCO in Busan on May 28. Through this exhibition, the delegation will hold business meetings with domestic defense companies. They are reportedly showing particular interest in frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and multi-purpose vessels.
A report published by KOTRA's Quito office indicates that the level of violence has risen significantly over the past five years due to the growth of prison gangs colluding with international drug cartels. Ecuador, which shares borders with countries known as the world's largest cocaine producers, has been used as a major drug trafficking route to Europe and North America, turning it into a battleground for cartels seeking to expand their influence.
Ecuador is considered one of the most insecure countries in Latin America. In 2023, its murder rate per capita was among the highest in Latin America, with 47.2 deaths per 100,000 people occurring due to violent crimes.
The Ecuadorian government recently declared an "internal armed conflict (Conflicto Armado Interno)" and launched full-scale military modernization and force reinforcement. They have begun a war against drug trafficking organizations by deploying military and police forces for arrest operations. The role of the military and police has expanded to include city patrols, prison control, and the protection of ports and airports, leading to an increase in demand for equipment.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected on the 13th (local time), gained voter support with a pledge to take a hard-line approach to resolving the security crisis. President Noboa is undertaking large-scale military investments. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Ecuador tripled its military equipment imports last year. Last year's defense budget was $1.6218 billion (2.3 trillion KRW), an increase of 13.34% from the previous year and the largest in the past decade.
Ecuador is also striving to secure deep-sea operational capabilities, including frigates and logistics support ships, to "block illegal fishing in the Galapagos." With concerns mounting over the destruction of the marine ecosystem due to large-scale foreign fishing fleets, vessels capable of protecting the Galapagos Islands, located about 1,000 km from the mainland, are essential.
South Korea has contributed to the protection of the Galapagos by donating three decommissioned vessels to Ecuador. In 2020, two 300-ton patrol vessels (the Darwin and the Floreana) were delivered to Ecuador and are currently active as anti-drug units in the Galapagos Islands. These two patrol vessels seized 4,742 kg of illegal drugs during anti-smuggling operations between 2022 and 2023.
The 3,000-ton naval vessel (the Jambeli) donated by South Korea in 2024 is scheduled to arrive in Ecuador in April after completing repairs in South Korea. The South American military media outlet Defensa reported that the Jambeli, currently preparing for arrival, will be newly deployed to the Ecuadorian Navy to bolster operational capabilities. A KOTRA official explained, "Due to the recent deterioration of public security in Ecuador, demand for defense and security is surging in both the government and private sectors. The Ecuadorian government's expansion of the defense budget is also supporting this."