Caption
A man walks near the headquarters of the Russian Central Bank in Moscow on February 13, 2026. (Getty Images)
Caption
A soldier stands guard outside Canela Radio on January 10, 2024, in Quito, Ecuador. (Photo by Franklin Jacome/Getty Images)
Ecuador, once among the most peaceful countries in Latin America, faces an existential threat from an array of criminal groups. These organizations have committed unprecedented violence, infiltrated political structures, and challenged the government’s authority. Meanwhile, the country is going through an economic contraction and an energy crisis triggered by severe drought.
In a repeat of snap presidential elections held in 2023, Ecuadorians will vote on April 13 in a runoff pitting incumbent Daniel Noboa against Luisa Gonzalez, a protégé of former leftist president Rafael Correa.
Former United States Ambassador to Ecuador Mike Fitzpatrick, Atlantic Council scholar Isabel Chiriboga, and US Naval Academy Professor John Polga-Hecimovich will join Hudson’s Daniel Batlle to examine Ecuador’s fight against organized crime and how the election results will shape the country’s security strategy.
Related Events
15
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Representative Mike Lawler
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Lawler
Joel Rayburn
15
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Future of US Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Representative Mike Lawler
Join Representative Mike Lawler (NY-17), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, for a conversation with Senior Fellow Joel Rayburn on the emerging Middle East security order and the future of American strategy in the region.
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Lawler
Joel Rayburn
16
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Western Balkans: A View from Vienna with Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration, and Family Claudia Bauer
Featured Speakers:
Peter Rough
Claudia Bauer
16
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Western Balkans: A View from Vienna with Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration, and Family Claudia Bauer
Join Senior Fellow Peter Rough as he welcomes Claudia Bauer, minister for Europe in the Federal Chancellery of Austria, for a policy address followed by a fireside chat on how Austria sees EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.
Featured Speakers:
Peter Rough
Claudia Bauer
20
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Takeaways from Ankara: Debriefing the 2026 NATO Summit with Representative Mike Turner (R-OH)
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Turner
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
20
July 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Takeaways from Ankara: Debriefing the 2026 NATO Summit with Representative Mike Turner (R-OH)
Please join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) to discuss the summit following his return from Ankara, where he served as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation.
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Mike Turner
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
21
July 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US-Israel Economic Partnership: A Farewell Conversation with Minister Noach Hacker
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Noach Hacker
21
July 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US-Israel Economic Partnership: A Farewell Conversation with Minister Noach Hacker
As the region enters a new strategic phase, Hudson is honored to host Minister Hacker for what promises to be a candid farewell discussion.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Noach Hacker
Related Research
Caption
(Getty Images)
Caption
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin writing the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Wikimedia Commons)
Caption
People deploy a large US flag near the US Capitol as part of the “Salute to America” Independence Day celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2026. (Getty Images)
