Ecuador's president touts US-backed crime-fighting efforts and vows to keep hunting down criminals

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Sunday used his State of the Union address to tout his government’s U.S.-backed crime-fighting strategies as well as improvements of some economic indicators.

Addressing the National Assembly in the capital, Quito, Noboa cited the extradition of a dozen crime bosses to the United States and the seizure of almost 300 tons of drugs as examples of what he described as a decisive and effective approach to combat organized crime, the main concern of Ecuadorians throughout this decade.

“We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” Noboa said of wanted criminals after he asserted that the South American country cannot develop “if families live in fear” due to organized crime.

Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs and battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine. The country is wedged between Colombia and Peru, the world’s top cocaine producing countries.

Last year, Ecuador recorded its highest homicide rate in decades of 50 murders per every 100,000 residents, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

In response, Noboa, who was reelected last year to a 4-year term, has used a state of exception to allow the military to implement a variety of crime-fighting strategies, including joint patrols with police officers and property searches without warrants. Earlier this year, Ecuador’s military also carried out a joint operation with U.S. forces against a training camp allegedly used by Colombian drug traffickers, attacking the site with drones, helicopters and boats.

Noboa has come under criticism from civil society groups, who say his iron fisted methods have failed to reduce crime, while putting civilians in danger.

Glaedys González, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, on Sunday said Noboa may have been optimistic in his speech regarding the country’s security, but “progress on violence is far from being achieved.”

“It is evident that the situation in Ecuador has reached unprecedented levels,” González said.

Noboa on Sunday also promoted economic progress, telling lawmakers that poverty dropped from 26% to 21.4% in 2025 while extreme poverty went down from 10.4% to 8.4%.

Noboa was first elected in 2023 during a snap election triggered when then-President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly and shortened his own term.

President Daniel Noboa delivers his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly.in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa and his family leave the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa delivers his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly.in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa and his family leave the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa leaves the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa speaks at the Organization of American States meeting, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Auto racing's biggest day became a Memorial Day weekend tribute to NASCAR racing great Kyle Busch from Indianapolis to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch died Thurday at 41 after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family, and his loss sent shockwaves through the motorsports world and beyond.

At the Coca-Cola 600 — a race Busch won in 2018 — NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway honored the two-time Cup Series champion with a large, black No. 8 and his signature on the frontstretch grass and a photo on the videoboard.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights planned to carry Busch's flag prior during pre-race festivities following a moment of silence. Each of the 39 cars in field will carry Busch's decal. And, the speedway's public address system and the television commentators plan to go silent on the eighth lap of the race.

There may be other undisclosed tributes planned as well, per track officials.

On Saturday night, Layne Riggs celebrated his Trucks Series win at CMS by doing one of Busch's traditional bows to the crowd after the race, and Ross Chastain did the same after capturing the rain-shortened O'Reilly Auto Parts race.

NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell called Busch “an American badass.”

“When you think race car driver and what that person should be like, Kyle Busch is probably one of the first that comes to your mind on the type of racer he was," Cup Series driver Joey Logano said.

Fans at CMS arrived in droves with shirts to honor Busch that read “Rowdy” and “KFB.”

Earlier in the day at the Indianapolis 500, Dale Coyne Racing changed the font of Romain Grosjean's No. 18 car to replicate the font the two-time Brickyard 400 winner used during his 14 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing in his No. 18 car.

Then came the opening prayer, in which Busch was mentioned by name. And on Lap 18, race officials lit up the scoring pylon next to pit lane with Busch's name, his birth year and 2026.

Even with the pageantry of Indianapolis' big IndyCar race, Busch, who had a record 234 victory across NASCAR’s three national series, was never far from the thoughts of people in the city that dubs itself the “Racing Capital of the World.” The father of two died Thursday at age 41 from what his family said was severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.

“It’s desperately sad. It’s also one of those things where you try not to think about it or let it in because you’ve got so much to do, you can’t let yourself get emotional,” Katherine Legge said Friday after returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “But honestly, racing has lost one of the greatest drivers, in my opinion, of all time. If you look back at the history and just — he was a legend.”

As Indy held its biggest race of the year, those who knew or competed against Busch raced with a heavy heart.

“How can you not be in shock over the situation?” two-time Indy winner Josef Newgarden said Friday. “I think it just puts into perspective how fragile life is. You just don’t know. Makes me think of his kids, to be honest with you. Gosh, I feel terrible about — I have two sons now. That’s the thing that breaks my heart.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

A decal is displayed on Denny Hamlin's car in honor of late driver Kyle Busch prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Helicopters fly over the field on the parade lap before the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

A decal is displayed on the on the truck of Andres Perez De Lara in honor of the late driver Kyle Busch, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Fighter jets fly over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during ceremonies before the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

FILE - Kurt Busch waits in his car before practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series Coca-Cola 600 auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File, File) CORRECTION: Driver ID corrected to Kurt Busch, not Kyle Busch.