Ecuador is currently facing a significant escalation in drug-related violence, which has been attributed to a surge in European demand for cocaine and increased coca leaf cultivation. The Financial Times reports that the country, once one of the most peaceful in Latin America, has now become mired in what has been described as a 'state of war' with drug gangs. This unrest has had global repercussions, reshaping the criminal landscape in Latin America, as discussed on Vox's 'Today, Explained'. The situation has deteriorated to the point where drug gangs have stormed a live TV broadcast, causing widespread terror, as reported by The Guardian. International assistance, particularly from the U.S. and regional partners, is deemed crucial for Ecuador to combat this surge in drug violence, according to experts from The Economist and the Council on Foreign Relations. In a surprising turn of events, Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro, who is accused by the U.S. of turning his country into a hub for drugs and narco-terrorism, has offered aid to help Ecuador control the violence, as per the Miami Herald.
This is no joke: Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, who according to the U.S. has turned his country into a drug and narco-terrorism hub, is offering Venezuela’s aid to help control #Ecuador’s explosion of drug-related violence. Read: https://t.co/m1yzuXL8RX @miamiherald
This is no joke: Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, who according to the U.S. has turned his country into a drug and narco-terrorism hub, is offering Venezuela’s aid to help control #Ecuador’s explosion of drug-related violence. Read: https://t.co/m1yzuXL8RX @miamherald
In the latest Today in Focus: Just a few years ago Ecuador was one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America. But last week drug gangs stormed a live TV broadcast and unleashed a wave of terror. Tom Phillips reports. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://t.co/5rq7ByTpG4
I joined 'Today, Explained' from Vox to talk about how a surge in European demand for cocaine is reshuffling Latin America's criminal landscape -- and putting Ecuador in the crosshairs. https://t.co/Iq1vzGWore
Growing cocaine demand and booming coca leaf cultivation is fueling unrest in Ecuador. @TheEconomist’s @AnaLankes and @CFR_org's @WillGFreeman how it's reverberating globally. https://t.co/4gXSPXnFcm
Ecuador won’t be able to fight drug violence without more U.S., regional help | Opinion https://t.co/Ejeh5Igzip
How Ecuador became mired in a ‘state of war’ with drug gangs via @FT https://t.co/xKlH1odMQf