Noboa Decree Opens Door to Allied Troops in Ecuador

President Daniel Noboa has opened the legal path for allied foreign military personnel to support Ecuador's campaign against criminal organizations.

The move came through Executive Decree 424, issued on June 18, 2026.

What The Decree Allows

Noboa said allied military personnel may deploy in provinces most affected by violence to work with Ecuador's security bloc.

The decree also allows Ecuador to receive international cooperation to strengthen operations against criminal bands. It says the Armed Forces, National Police and cooperating states must carry out actions to recover, preserve and guarantee Ecuador's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Foreign personnel participating under the internal armed-conflict framework would receive immunity under international instruments and agreements signed by Ecuador.

No Foreign Troops Yet

For now, officials say an actual foreign troop deployment is not planned.

Mauro Bedoya, commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force's Air and Space Operations Command, said foreign cooperation is currently focused on advising, especially the use of technology against criminal organizations.

Bedoya said that if a deployment happens later, it will be reported at the appropriate time. Current international cooperation comes mainly from the United States.

Ecuadorian Troops Are Moving Now

The domestic deployment is already underway.

Ecuador is sending 13,000 military personnel to Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos as part of Ofensiva Total. Bedoya said the personnel would arrive by midday on June 19, 2026.

About 6,000 of those uniformed personnel are being assigned to Guayas.

The deployed troops are coming from less conflictive provinces, including Pichincha and Azuay, even though those provinces are also under the state of exception declared on June 16, 2026.

What This Means for Expats

For foreign residents, the immediate issue is not foreign soldiers on the street tomorrow. The immediate issue is that Ecuador is escalating its security framework and centralizing more military resources in the coastal provinces with the highest violence indicators.

Expect more checkpoints, more military presence, more document checks in sensitive areas, and a more serious security posture around ports, airports and high-risk routes.

Carry ID, keep travel plans conservative in Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos, and do not treat the state of exception as background noise. The legal framework is moving quickly, and practical conditions can change by province.