President Guillermo Lasso discussed security issues with US Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Coordinating security actions between Ecuador and the United States was the focus of the meeting between the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, and the Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.

The meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Carondelet Palace with the participation of the United States Ambassador to Ecuador, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, US officials, the ministers Juan Zapata (Interior), Luis Lara (Defense) and Francisco Jiménez (Government ). Also present were the Secretary of Public Security, Diego Ordóñez, and the Ecuadorian ambassador to the United States, Ivonne Baki.

“We are committed to coordinating joint actions on security, the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking,” President Guillermo Lasso reported through a message on social networks.

After finishing the work appointment, Mayorkas made an official statement in Carondelet where he stressed that Ecuador “is a close partner” of the United States.

“We look to the future to strengthen this alliance,” mentioned the Secretary of Security, adding that “cybersecurity is an extraordinary challenge” facing the world. In this sense, he highlighted the need to increase protection against threats.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Juan Zapata, indicated that the National Defense project will be prioritized, and strategies to combat human trafficking, drug trafficking and cybersecurity were analyzed.

He added that several projects underway with the United States “have already given positive results.”

The presence in the country of the high official of the Joe Biden government is to continue the dialogue that took place with President Lasso at the Summit of the Americas, Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguín explained earlier.

The office of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that it will address issues of cybersecurity, the fight against transnational organized crime, strengthening the exchange of information on law enforcement and management of regional migration.

After his visit to Ecuador, Mayorkas will travel to Bogotá (Colombia) to address issues on irregular migratory flows through the Darién Gap, among other issues. (YO)