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Palm Beach, FL - President Donald Trump met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Saturday in Palm Beach as Noboa prepares for a highly anticipated runoff election on April 13th.
The meeting comes amid Noboa’s ongoing efforts to position himself as a firm opponent of organized crime in Ecuador, a country grappling with a surge in gang violence.
Although the discussion was described by Noboa’s office as “friendly and private,” it comes at a critical political moment. Noboa, who was elected in 2023 to complete the term of his predecessor, has aggressively cracked down on narcotrafficking and prison gangs, deploying military forces across the country and endorsing longer prison sentences.
His administration claims these actions have contributed to a measurable drop in violent crime.
Noboa’s visit also signals growing Ecuador-U.S. cooperation.
He has shown interest in expanding defense ties with Washington, including the possibility of a new U.S. military presence in Ecuador.
His government recently ratified two military agreements with the U.S. and launched a bilateral defense working group focused on counter-narcotics operations.
Noboa’s administration has also entered a strategic partnership with Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, to further combat transnational crime.
The Trump meeting follows reports that Ecuador may pursue a trade deal similar to U.S. agreements with Colombia and Peru.
The political optics of meeting with Trump just two weeks before Ecuador’s election have drawn both domestic and international attention, potentially influencing voter sentiment as Noboa faces leftist rival Luisa González.