BEIRUT — Emirati defense giant EDGE Group announced today that it has signed a letter of Intent with Ecuador’s Ministry of Defense to provide Quito with border protection systems and modernize its surveillance capabilities.
“The agreement establishes a strategic partnership to enhance Ecuador’s defence and border security capabilities through advanced, integrated solutions,” EDGE said in the announcement. “Under the multi-year programme, EDGE would deliver modern surveillance systems, supported by training and local capability development to ensure long-term operational readiness.”
The value and timeline of the program weren’t disclosed by the company, but the move comes at tense geopolitical moments for both nations. The UAE is currently attempting to fend off Iranian missile and drone attacks, and Ecuador has invited American military forces to aid it in aggressive counter-narcotics operations.
In its announcement, EDGE commercial president Omar Al Zaabi noted that the firm had supplied “complex national security and border surveillance programmes across multiple regions” and said it would “bring that experience to Ecuador by deploying high performance surveillance and protection capabilities while building robust in-country expertise to secure lasting operational advantage and resilience.”
EDGE did not say what specific systems could be deployed, but Albert Vidal, a research analyst for the London-based thinktank The International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the conglomerate has experience in the domain.
The domain of homeland security is not new for EDGE, which recently signed agreements to supply a similar border protection system to Angola and a coastal surveillance system to Brazil,” he said.
The agreement also comes as UAE expands its presence in Latin America after opening its first international office in Brazil and in the wake of several joint ventures with Brazilian firms.
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Vidal said Brazil has served as the “springboard” for EDGE’s expansion into the rest of Latin America, and said the company “has already been in talks with several Latin American governments during the past year to sell its solutions.”
He added that “given the high demand for internal security in Latin America, EDGE’s approach in the region is emphasizing border control, surveillance, drones and anti-drone systems, cybersecurity, and non-lethal ammunition, rather than more traditional types of military equipment.”