The end of the truce in Colombia strengthened the guerrillas on the border and increased criminal pressure on Ecuador.

The breakdown of peace negotiations and ceasefires between the Colombian government and major illegal armed organizations has significantly impacted the region, strengthening guerrilla groups along the border and increasing criminal pressure on neighboring Ecuador. The deterioration of these peace processes has generated cross-border security consequences as armed factions regroup and expand their illicit operations.

Simultaneously, political developments in the United States involving the Trump administration have targeted the Head Start program, a historic federal initiative providing early childhood education and assistance to hundreds of thousands of low-income and vulnerable children.