Ecuador is facing one of the most consequential moments in its recent history. President Daniel Noboa won reelection in April 2025 on a promise to restore public security, but despite an increasingly aggressive campaign against organized crime and closer ties with the United States, the country continues to struggle with entrenched criminal networks. Homicides are down about 8% this year after a record-setting 2025, and Noboa is increasingly compared to El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. Now, local elections on November 29 will test Noboa’s political strength, with the main opposition party barred from running under its own name, and one of its top leaders in jail. Our guest is Sebastián Hurtado, co-founder and CEO of Prófitas, a political risk consultancy based in Quito.
Guest:
Sebastián Hurtado is founder and president of PRóFITAS, a leading political risk consultancy based in Quito.
Host:
Brian Winter is editor in chief of Americas Quarterly
If you would like to know more:
Ecuador: Daniel Noboa’s Crackdown at a Crossroads by Will Freeman
The Ecuador-Colombia Trade Spat Is a Zero-Sum Game by Sebastián Hurtado
Ecuador: A 2026 Snapshot by Emilie Sweigart
AQ Podcast | A Critical Election in Ecuador
An overview of what to expect in politics, the economy, and Ecuador’s relationship with the new government in Washington.
