Security in Latin America: The Bukele Strategy
Source: Wikimedia Commons/La Prensa Gráfica. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele declaring the War Against Corruption
We are committed to building El Salvador free, free from poverty, dependence, exclusion, fear, violence, and any other form of domination contrary to democracy.
These words can be read in the preamble of Nuevas Ideas, the party that Nayib Bukele comes from. After six years of his tough but necessary government, it can be said that this sentence has become a reality and not just another “promise made by a politician” that traditionally goes unfulfilled.
However, President Bukele has changed that perception, and his government has yielded dramatic results in terms of public security. Once considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, El Salvador has now seen a drastic drop in homicides and criminal activity.
After establishing CECOT, a maximum-security prison where gang members are detained, other countries in the Latin American region have not only looked up to this strong method, but have also advocated for similar actions to create a safer environment.
On the other hand, some have said that prisoners must adapt to problematic conditions. They have little to no freedom, are forced to do physical exercise, and are enclosed in a space where one loses track of time, as the lights are never turned off.
Security has rarely been a long-term commitment in Latin America, especially in countries undergoing deep social transformations and abrupt political shifts. Many governments struggle to implement sustainable public security policies, often reacting to crises rather than preventing them.
The region consistently shows some of the highest homicide rates in the world, showing structural issues such as inequality, corruption, and weak judicial systems. Thus, the appeal of strong-handed leadership grows: not always as a first choice, but often as the only visible one.
In Ecuador, the “Bukele effect” is strong and has been widely demanded due to gang violence, kidnappings, and, most importantly, the desire for citizens to feel safe in their own homes.
In Daniel Noboa’s government, he explained how he would construct a high-security jail on the Ecuadorian coast, in the Santa Elena area. Noboa ordered the facility to have extreme security and to eliminate all activities that feel like a luxury in jail.
He claims this new place would be a site to combat terrorism and mafias, featuring five pavilions, four courtyards, and three security fences. With high technology and X-ray machines, Noboa is aiming for metal’s identification and operates with cavity detectors.
A year later, the project is still under construction, leaving many criminals on the streets of this small country. Violence, kidnappings, and assaults have increased recently. As of May 2025, this has been named the most violent month so far.
Yet Bukele has created what certain citizens characterise as a positive impact in his home country, leading immigrants in the U.S. to return or, in the case of second generations, to visit for the first time, and leave enchanted with a safe and secure environment. By the end of 2025, 82% of Salvadorans approved of the government after six years.
Bukele’s success reveals a strategic policy that involves the whole country's commitment. Security should not come at the cost of liberties, even if this is a problematic topic for some to discuss. The question of whether countries need their “own version” of Bukele remains a matter of debate.
Should countries like Ecuador implement deeper reforms and seek leadership that is truly committed to long-term security? At the end of the day, building a country should be about creating free and safe conditions, even if the bad ones must be punished behind bars.