The US State Department confirmed on September 4 that Secretary Marco Rubio will visit Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru next week. ^[1] On September 4, 2026, President Noboa proposed selling unproductive real estate assets of the IESS worth $2 billion to generate liquidity for social security operations. ^[2] A stated objective of the visit is to increase cooperation in the joint fight against narcoterrorism threatening the hemisphere. ^[3] In 2014, the COIP eliminated the final clause of Article 54 of the Social Security Law, which previously sanctioned with up to three years in prison anyone who ordered or executed transfers of resources between assigned budgetary funds. ^[4] Under the presidency of Correa, decisions were made that weakened the IESS, including the removal of a constitutional requirement to create a financial entity within 180 days. ^[5] President Noboa and his ministers are credited with successfully opening new international markets and accelerating access for Ecuadorian products to previously closed countries. ^[6] The article argues that internal reforms are indispensable to convert the new market access into concrete local and foreign investments. ^[7] The author asserts that foreign investors will not commit significant capital if they perceive a lack of confidence in local entrepreneurs. ^[8] The author states that judicial independence is required so that laws are applied impartially and disputes between private companies and state agencies are resolved without external interference. ^[9]