Why Trump should designate Ecuador as a major non-NATO ally

The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy calls for restoring “American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere” by enlisting “regional champions” to stop drug flows and “neutralize cartels.” No country has put that strategy into practice more clearly than Ecuador. Under President Daniel Noboa, Ecuador has restored extradition and expanded military, intelligence and law-enforcement cooperation with Washington. 

The U.S. should reward this cooperation and lay the groundwork for deepening it further by designating Ecuador as a major non-NATO ally. 

Ecuador’s partnership has proven to be especially valuable at sea. Since Ecuadorian and American forces launched joint operations in March, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter James was able to conduct nine interdictions and seize more than 46,500 pounds of narcotics. Last month, Quito announced that two U.S. warships would patrol Ecuadorian waters. Three Black Hawk helicopters were already in Manta and are now poised to conduct additional operations. Together, those air and naval assets add American reach to operations Ecuador is already helping us carry out. 

Extradition offers even stronger proof of Ecuador’s commitment to the new American security doctrine. After Ecuadorian voters approved extradition in transnational organized crime cases by a margin of nearly 30 percent in a referendum, Ecuador sent three of its own nationals accused of major narcotics offenses to American courts. 

Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar (aka........

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