Análisis por Ana María Cañizares, CNN en Español

Los constantes viajes del presidente de Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, a Estados Unidos suscitan interrogantes en la opinión pública sobre los verdaderos efectos que estas visitas puedan tener para el país, que enfrenta una profunda crisis de seguridad. Noboa ha viajado a EE.UU. en 18 ocasiones desde que asumió el mandato en noviembre de 2023, según el portal oficial de decretos presidenciales.

El mandatario cumplió esta semana en Washington una agenda de encuentros con legisladores, autoridades de organismos multilaterales, representantes de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) y el vicepresidente de Estados Unidos, J.D. Vance, sobre temas como la seguridad, la migración y el comercio, informó la Presidencia de Ecuador. La Cancillería distribuyó a la prensa fotografías y boletines, pero no brindó más detalles sobre las reuniones del mandatario. En las cuentas de redes sociales de Noboa hay algunas fotografías. Antes de su viaje, CNN solicitó detalles, pero únicamente se publicó su agenda en las cuentas oficiales, sin indicar pormenores.

“Intenta subir su popularidad, que está cayendo en el país. Intenta mostrarse como una persona fuerte que ha recibido reconocimiento en Estados Unidos. Busca hacer creer que realmente tiene el apoyo de ese país”, sostiene el analista y experto en seguridad, Jean Paul Pinto, consultado por CNN.

Noboa llegó a Washington pocos días después de que la Casa Blanca publicara su Estrategia Nacional de Control de Drogas 2026, en la que Ecuador no tiene ninguna mención directa dentro de su análisis y proyecciones, pese a ser un punto clave para el tráfico de drogas en el mundo y a pesar de que el gobierno ecuatoriano insiste en que Estados Unidos es su aliado en el combate al crimen organizado y al narcotráfico. El informe sí incluye a México y a Colombia, que también sufren el impacto de la operación de grupos criminales y con los que el gobierno de Ecuador mantiene relaciones resquebrajadas. CNN consultó a la Oficina de Política Nacional de Control de Drogas que elaboró el informe para saber por qué Ecuador no fue incluido y está a la espera de una respuesta.

En el mensaje que publicó en Instagram sobre su apretón de manos con J.D. Vance, Noboa insistió en que su relación con Estados Unidos es productiva en materia de seguridad. “Ecuador y EE.UU. luchamos contra enemigos que no reconocen fronteras. Hoy seguimos fortaleciendo una alianza basada en la firmeza y la decisión de enfrentar juntos el narcotráfico”, precisó.

En marzo pasado, Trump reunió en Florida a 12 líderes latinoamericanos, principalmente de derecha, para analizar la seguridad regional, la lucha contra el narcotráfico y la migración. A dicha iniciativa, denominada entonces “Escudo de las Américas”, no fueron invitados los mandatarios de Colombia, país señalado como el principal productor mundial de cocaína, y de México, cuyos carteles se encargan de introducir ilícitamente distintos tipos de drogas al territorio estadounidense. Noboa sí asistió a la convocatoria de Trump.

Pero Pinto cree que el discurso está lejos de lo que ocurre en la práctica: “Ecuador no ha sido nombrado en el Informe Antidrogas de EE.UU. Los resultados de la política de seguridad del presidente Noboa no han sido significativos; la violencia no ha parado y los asesinatos en las cárceles continúan”, insiste Pinto. Cree que el gobierno sobredimensiona constantemente sus acciones de combate a la inseguridad, pero c

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By Jennifer Hansler, CNN

(CNN) — Amid ongoing foreign policy crises around the globe and as the Trump administration struggles to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, the State Department last week finalized the firings of nearly 250 foreign service officers in a brief, impersonal email.

“Your reduction in force separation will be effective today,” part of it read. “Thank you again for your service to the Department.”

Those reductions in force (RIFs), which were initiated last July, also impacted more than 1,000 civil service officers, and saw the firings of entire staffs in offices that former officials say would have been able to provide guidance on the war in Iran, which is having severe consequences for the US and global economy. The State Department has consistently maintained that the RIFs were meant to eliminate redundancies and that work on key issues was maintained and moved to different offices.

Beyond the firings, scores of experienced foreign service officers with decades of experience have retired. Nearly a dozen former officials who spoke with CNN said it is clear that the Trump administration has no upward assignments or promotions, like ambassadorships, available for career diplomats, leaving them with no options in an “up or out” system.

“It was just unprecedented numbers of people choosing to leave,” said David Kostelancik, who retired after 36 years in the foreign service. The American Foreign Service Association estimates that roughly 2,000 foreign service officers left the State Department last year.

Meanwhile, more than 100 ambassador posts around the world, including in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Russia, do not have a Senate confirmed ambassador, setting the US far behind the likes of adversaries like China.

And the most sensitive diplomatic negotiations, on fraught topics like ending the war in Iran and securing an end to the Ukraine conflict, are being led by business associates and family members of President Donald Trump, often without teams of experienced diplomats with regional expertise.

Taken together, the actions represent what former diplomats say is a systematic hollowing out of the State Department that Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first day pledged to empower. Although the agency has begun hiring new diplomats, the loss of experienced personnel, the former officials say, will have far-reaching consequences for the US’ ability to project power and deliver on its priorities both now and for years to come.

“I think historians will look back on this period as one of the great unforced errors that the United States imposes on itself,” former career ambassador John Bass told CNN.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the idea that the agency was being hollowed out is “false,” and the claim that the loss of hundreds of experienced diplomats will impact US’ ability to deliver on its priorities is “baseless.”

“Our reorganization eliminated redundant positions, streamlined efforts by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and empowered our diplomatic corps,” he said, referring to the sweeping overhaul within the department.

Pigott said that “the RIF’s are not having any negative impact on our ability to respond to operations, our ability to plan, and our ability to execute in service to Americans.”

“In fact, we have been able to respond quicker and more effec

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN

(CNN) — Amid ongoing foreign policy crises around the globe and as the Trump administration struggles to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, the State Department last week finalized the firings of nearly 250 foreign service officers in a brief, impersonal email.

“Your reduction in force separation will be effective today,” part of it read. “Thank you again for your service to the Department.”

Those reductions in force (RIFs), which were initiated last July, also impacted more than 1,000 civil service officers, and saw the firings of entire staffs in offices that former officials say would have been able to provide guidance on the war in Iran, which is having severe consequences for the US and global economy. The State Department has consistently maintained that the RIFs were meant to eliminate redundancies and that work on key issues was maintained and moved to different offices.

Beyond the firings, scores of experienced foreign service officers with decades of experience have retired. Nearly a dozen former officials who spoke with CNN said it is clear that the Trump administration has no upward assignments or promotions, like ambassadorships, available for career diplomats, leaving them with no options in an “up or out” system.

“It was just unprecedented numbers of people choosing to leave,” said David Kostelancik, who retired after 36 years in the foreign service. The American Foreign Service Association estimates that roughly 2,000 foreign service officers left the State Department last year.

Meanwhile, more than 100 ambassador posts around the world, including in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Russia, do not have a Senate confirmed ambassador, setting the US far behind the likes of adversaries like China.

And the most sensitive diplomatic negotiations, on fraught topics like ending the war in Iran and securing an end to the Ukraine conflict, are being led by business associates and family members of President Donald Trump, often without teams of experienced diplomats with regional expertise.

Taken together, the actions represent what former diplomats say is a systematic hollowing out of the State Department that Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first day pledged to empower. Although the agency has begun hiring new diplomats, the loss of experienced personnel, the former officials say, will have far-reaching consequences for the US’ ability to project power and deliver on its priorities both now and for years to come.

“I think historians will look back on this period as one of the great unforced errors that the United States imposes on itself,” former career ambassador John Bass told CNN.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the idea that the agency was being hollowed out is “false,” and the claim that the loss of hundreds of experienced diplomats will impact US’ ability to deliver on its priorities is “baseless.”

“Our reorganization eliminated redundant positions, streamlined efforts by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and empowered our diplomatic corps,” he said, referring to the sweeping overhaul within the department.

Pigott said that “the RIF’s are not having any negative impact on our ability to respond to operations, our ability to plan, and our ability to execute in service to Americans.”

“In fact, we have been able to respond quicker

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