Ecuador’s Commercial War with Colombia Exposes Failed Security and Trade Policies

When Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa announced an unprecedented 30% tariff on Colombian imports, it wasn’t just a trade dispute—it was a wake-up call exposing decades of lax border security and failed policies in the region that have serious implications for the United States and its national security.Are Weak Borders Fueling a Broader Crisis?At the heart of this commercial conflict lies a shared problem: rampant narcotrafficking along the Ecuador-Colombia border. Despite multiple diplomatic talks and promises from Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s administration to tighten controls, illicit drugs—primarily cocaine produced in Colombia—continue to flood through Ecuador. This not only threatens Ecuadorian sovereignty...