Trump met with Ecuadorean President Noboa in Florida on Saturday

Alexandra Valencia - Reuters - 31/03
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa in Florida on Saturday, ahead of a tight April 13 run-off election that will pit Noboa against leftist Luisa Gonzalez.
  • Trump and Noboa share interest in fighting drugs
  • Ecuador said pitching Trump for US base
  • South American country keen to secure bilateral trade deal
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, March 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa in Florida on Saturday, ahead of a tight April 13 run-off election that will pit Noboa against leftist Luisa Gonzalez.
Noboa, 37, was elected in 2023 to serve out the remainder of his predecessor's term on promises to combat drug gangs that have roiled the once-placid South American country.

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Trump has made combating fentanyl, responsible for some 70,000 deaths a year in the United States, a key pillar of his second term in office by imposing tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.
Noboa posted a photograph on X of himself and his wife with Trump late on Saturday, but added no commentary about the encounter.
"The meeting held by President Daniel Noboa was of a friendly and private nature," said Noboa's press office. "We will be informing during the week of the authorized points."
White House officials had confirmed the meeting would take place on Friday, but gave no details.
Trump held a surprise meeting earlier in the day with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who joined Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida to discuss their countries' bilateral partner...
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