QUITO, April 29 (Reuters) - Ecuador will buy 24 warplanes made by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer (ERJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(EMBR3.SA: Quote, Profile, Research), Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim told Reuters on Tuesday.I guess Ecuador doesn't want anybody messing with its rebel (FARC) bases.
[...]Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said he planned to beef up it country's air force to protect its porous border with Colombia after that country bombed a leftist rebel camp inside Ecuador.
The March 1 incursion briefly raised the threat of war, but tensions eased during a regional meeting a week later. Ecuador has severed diplomatic ties with Bogota and tensions remain high between both countries.
(Reuters)
Seriously, it is possible to see an analogy to Pakistan with the latter's reluctance to allow US strikes against Taliban targets in Pakistan. Though Pakistan at least says that it is willing to conduct operations against Taliban groups if good information comes to light. I don't know that is the case with Ecuador. One might dare to hope that the Super Tucano, a capable turboprop fighter thought valuable for counterinsurgency operations (COIN), is regarded by Ecuadorean leaders as a tool to use against unwelcome FARC bases in Ecuador rather than (or in addition to) providing security against Columbian incursions.
We'll see how it pans out.
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Columbia ordered 24 Super Tucanos a couple of years ago, as it happens. The Super Tucano above is with the Columbian Air Force.
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