The Ecuadorean government says it will hurry the purchase of 24
Brazilian and six Israeli military planes and build four new army camps
to protect the border with Colombia and prevent the incursion of
illegal armed groups.
Ecuador Defense Minister Javier Ponce wants to have the bases built and the airplanes purchased before the end of this year, he said after an inspection of the current border Sunday.
According to Ponce, Ecuador already has increased the number of troops on its northern border and is in the process of buying radar systems to monitor activity in an area that’s frequented by both leftist guerrillas and right wing paramilitary groups.
Ecuador has long wanted increased border security after March last year Colombia bombed a FARC camp that was set up on Ecuadorean territory. Colombia accuses Ecuador of harboring leftist rebels, while Ecuador accuses Bogota of not doing enough to stop the incursion of right wing paramilitaries.
