The Colombian and Ecuadorian governments on Tuesday signed an agreement to enhance cooperation between their respective air forces to more effectively combat crime along the border between the two countries.
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon highlighted the importance of Ecuadorian government cooperation in preventing transnational crime and the presence of the FARC on the countries’ borders.
“Agreements like the one signed today with Ecuador’s minister of defense establish better defined protocols between the air forces of the two countries, so that the units are able to exchange information regarding aircraft and irregular aerial activity on our borders,” explained Pinzon.
Pinzon further added that the agreement would benefit “the fight against narco-trafficking, criminal activity and terrorism” in the border zone between Colombia and Ecuador.
Pinzon’s Ecuadorian counterpart, Maria Fernanda Espinosa emphasised Ecuador’s “zero tolerance policy” to illegal armed groups on their territory.
“Ecuador has not ceased in its efforts to combat irregular groups in the [border] area and now, like never before, the work is coordinated…we have a common purpose which is the security of the population living in the border area…and every day Ecuadorian armed forces are reporting seizures and arrests, which reflect the efficiency of the work developing in the areas close to the border,” Espinosa said Tuesday.
The defence ministers also discussed illegal mining, contraband fuel and the trafficking of arms and explosives.