Scott commits to strengthening national security relations with Ecuador following visit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott committed to strengthening U.S. economic and national security relations with Ecuador following his return from the South American country.
Scott met with Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso and President-elect Daniel Noboa to discuss ways for the two countries to increase and improve trade and commerce.
”Ecuador is an important friend and partner to the United States and I was honored to visit and see first-hand the trade and collaboration between our two nations,” Scott said in a press release.
“I’d like to thank President Lasso, President-elect Noboa and the people of Ecuador for their commitment to democracy at home and across the region,” he added.
Scott explained how he was “very concerned” about the future of Ecuador’s democracy in Latin America with regimes in Venezuela and Cuba continuing to spread “socialism and instability” in the region.
“One of the biggest threats to democracy in Latin America and across the Western Hemisphere is the growing influence of oppressive regimes like Communist China,” he said. “Now more than ever the United States must stand firm with friends like Ecuador against the attacks on democracy in the region, and threats to the national security of the United States.”
He explained how he was pleased to see the work that the U.S. had done to increase imports and exports with Ecuador in the recent years.
“I was proud to fight for Ecuador’s fresh-cut roses to be added to the U.S. GSP Program in 2020, and I am fighting for this program to be reauthorized and urging my colleagues in Congress to expeditiously pass a reauthorization this Congress to end the lapse,” Scott said.
“The United States will continue to foster our economic relationship, fight to defend freedom, condemn efforts to undermine democracy and urge the international community to join the United States in supporting the people of Ecuador.”
Other South American countries such as Argentina have rejected the push for left-wing governments by electing self-described “libertarian” and “populist” outsider Javier Milei on Sunday.
