On October 17, the Inter-American Defense Board received, at the historic facilities of the Casa del Soldado, in Washington, the visit of the Commander of the Army of the Land Force of Ecuador, Army General Edwin Fernando Adatty Albuja, accompanied by Colonel Víctor Hugo Villavicencio Zavala, Military Advisor at the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the OAS/IADB.
On this occasion, General Ávila was received by the Vice President of the Council of Delegates of the IADB, General Carlos Bazán Barrios (Paraguay), who in his opening remarks highlighted to the visitors the importance of cooperation and collaboration between the Armed Forces of the Hemisphere to jointly address continental challenges.
The Head of the IADB's Undersecretariat for Advisory Services, Colonel Daniel Fitch (USA), presented an overview of the organization, highlighting its role in promoting cooperation and dialogue among American states, and emphasized how the IADB works to address current hemispheric challenges, in line with the mandates of the OAS and its Democratic Charter.
During the meeting, General Adatty recognized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in the area of security and defense, and expressed the interest of the Ecuadorian Army to increase the participation of officers in the IADB, both in functions of the Board and in training programs offered by the Inter-American Defense College (IADC).
The agreements reached during the meeting represent a crucial step forward in the process of consolidating the participation of the Ecuadorian Army in the IADB, while generating new opportunities for training and the exchange of experiences. Both parties agreed on the importance of maintaining a permanent dialogue to ensure the success of these initiatives and to advance the shared objectives in the area of hemispheric security and defense.
The Inter-American Defense Board Created in 1942 during the Third Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the American Republics, the IADB is an organization that promotes cooperation in security and defense matters among the countries of the Americas, facilitating dialogue and collaboration on military and civilian issues. Its mission is to provide Member States with technical advisory services through the General Secretariat, consultative services through the Council of Delegates, and educational services through the Inter-American Defense College, on issues related to military and defense affairs in the Hemisphere in order to contribute to compliance with the OAS Charter.
