Almost four decades of military service in the Armed Forces of Ecuador speak of the experience and professionalism of Army Major General Nelson Proaño Rodríguez, who took office as head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces on May 5, 2022.
Graduated as an infantry second lieutenant in August 1984, Major General Proaño has an extensive academic background, including two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees, and four diplomas, among other university studies inside and outside the country.
At the same time, he has held high-ranking institutional posts such as military attaché to the Embassy of Ecuador in Chile, commander of the Army Education and Doctrine Command, director of the Eloy Alfaro Higher Military School, chief of the Ecuadorian Army General Staff, and chief of the Operational Staff of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, among others.
Diálogo Américas spoke with Major General Proaño about his military goals and priorities.
What are your priorities?
To fulfill the mission of the Joint Command, which is to conduct military operations under the guidelines of the Ministry of National Defense.
We have been designing new models and strategies to continue being effective in the control of threats and risks that threaten the defense of national sovereignty and the internal security of the State.
For example, a few weeks ago, drug trafficking was identified as a threat by the State Public Security Council.
In this context, the Armed Forces have to promote in a closer way the collaborative work that we carry out in support of the National Police and to work in the areas of our competence to confront this threat and its related crimes.
You mention drug trafficking; what are the results of the Armed Forces’ joint work to stop this threat?
Always within the framework of our Constitution and fulfilling our competencies, we support the National Police.
The State has determined that on some occasions, there are areas that require priority intervention.
For example, in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Guayas, where, via executive decree issued by the President of the Republic, a state of exception was declared in areas that were established as special security zones, and it was approved that the Armed Forces organize Joint Task Forces with personnel and means from the three forces that belong to the Joint Command, to carry out operations in close coordination with the National Police, and to confront transnational organized crime.
Tell me about the new organizational culture of the Armed Forces of Ecuador.
We have given a lot of importance to organizational culture to foster and consolidate the sense of institutional belonging.
We are working in the training and advanced training schools with military personnel to take up again more firmly the subject of institutional values and military principles, belonging, and family focus, among others.
What progress is the Armed Forces of Ecuador making in gender, and are they carrying out any exchange with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)?
The inclusion of women dates back to 1972, when the first women entered the Armed Forces as specialists with their own profession, whether as doctors, lawyers, or other specialties.
In 1999, women entered the training schools to graduate as a line or weapon officers and in the services.
Today, we have women in the higher ranks ready to advance to the next step, thus reaching the highest levels within the military institution.
This relationship of female personnel has been efficient and allowed the military institution to become more inclusive.
At the level of SOUTHCOM’s WPS, we have trained a significant number of female military personnel, who have become multipliers of the training received on gender and inclusion.
What new cooperation agreements are the Armed Forces making with their U.S. counterparts?
Cooperation has always been permanent with our U.S. counterparts, and we have several agreements in different areas, especially in training and training in the execution of exercises with other countries.
Similarly, in the area of security, we have the U.S. P-3 Orion aircraft, which allows us to maintain surveillance in the sectors of the Ecuadorian coast and to be able to share information to detect drug trafficking activities and other related crimes.
How are the Armed Forces working to combat illegal fishing, especially the Chinese-flagged ships that cross the Atlantic to the Pacific, heading for the Galápagos?
According to our regulations, the Ecuadorian Navy is directly responsible for the control of the sea.
We have systems, sensors, and radars that allow us to locate those vessels that have not been reported, identify their flag and registration, and determine what activity they are carrying out within our territorial sea.
In addition, the country has an exclusive economic zone that covers the Galapagos Islands sector, about 40 miles.
In that area, we execute and have all the information of vessels that do not comply with the laws or turn off their communications in order not to be detected.
Logically, when there is resistance, our Navy acts with its ships and maritime means to determine which activity is being carried out and if it is legal or illegal.
If it is illegal, it is subject to the corresponding legal processes.
Ecuador is part of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire and is affected by natural phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes. How are the Armed Forces prepared to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian aid?
Our highland region has several active volcanoes, including the Cotopaxi volcano.
We have had some natural disaster events, such as the earthquake of April 16, 2016, in the provinces of Manabí and Esmeraldas, where the Armed Forces were mobilized to support State institutions and the affected population.
Our preparation is permanent to act before these events. That is possible precisely because of the training we have had in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions we have carried out with the United Nations.
For example, our personnel is adequately trained to manage shelters for the victims. In addition, the Armed Forces have the logistical capacity for lodging, transportation, humanitarian assistance, security and control, rescue, and other needs that may arise.
With information from Diálogo Américas