Military & Security

Military - note

The military is tasked with safeguarding Ecuador's national sovereignty and defending the state's integrity; it also holds certain domestic security duties and may assist police operations in upholding public order when necessary. The military collaborates with the National Police in enforcing border security and engages in both bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as deploying troops for UN peacekeeping missions. Its defense relationships extend to neighboring nations, including Chile, Colombia, and Peru.

Border disputes with Peru were a central concern for the military until the late 1990s, and securing the borders continues to be a priority. However, in recent years, security challenges have evolved to include counterinsurgency and counternarcotics initiatives, particularly in the northern border region, where violence and criminal activities associated with terrorism, insurgency, and drug trafficking from Colombia, along with the influx of Venezuelan refugees, have crossed into Ecuador. To address these issues, the military has formed a joint service task force dedicated to counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and has increased troop presence along those borders. Additional missions encompass combating illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy. Since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has broadened the military's role in overall public security and domestic crime efforts, partly in response to escalating violence, police corruption, and inefficacy. In 2024, a constitutional amendment was ratified, officially permitting the military to engage in complementary security functions, such as aiding law enforcement in high-risk zones, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and offering logistical support in maintaining public order.

The military held power in the country from 1963 to 1966 and again from 1972 to 1979, and it supported a dictatorship from 1970 to 1972. Throughout the 1980s, the military remained loyal to civilian leadership, although relations between civilian authorities and the military were at times strained, affording the military significant independence from civilian control. It was implicated in coup attempts in both 2000 and 2010 (2025).

Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Includes the Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; comprising naval infantry, naval aviation, and coast guard), and the Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025).

Military service age and obligation

Voluntary military service for both men and women is available for those aged 18-22 years; there is a 12-month service obligation, with conscription having been abolished in 2008 (2025).

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military's equipment inventory consists of a blend of primarily older and a limited number of more modern assets sourced from various countries, including Brazil, Chile, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025).

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 40,000 personnel are active in the Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025).