The US military’s Southern Command announced on Tuesday that Ecuadorian and US soldiers had begun operations against designated terrorist groups in Ecuador with the goal of combating illegal narcotics trafficking.
In a statement on X, the Southern Command declared the action, although it gave no other information.
The declaration was made the day after Daniel Noboa, the president of Ecuador, declared that the US was one of the “regional allies” participating in a “new phase” of the country’s fight against drug gangs.
According to Noboa, almost 70% of the world’s cocaine currently passes via Ecuador’s massive ports, making it a profitable destination for drug trafficking organizations, according to information obtained by Naija News. Additionally, Ecuador shares borders with Peru and Colombia, the two biggest producers of cocaine worldwide.
The US dreams to increase its footprint in the eastern Pacific region were dashed four months ago when Ecuadoreans voted against allowing foreign military sites to return to the country.
Noboa, a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump who is attempting to combat organized crime and lower rising levels of violence, suffered a setback as a result of the referendum. Ecuador has emerged as one of the major hubs for drug trafficking in the globe in recent years.
Leaders Talk About Operational Plans and Information Sharing
Francis Donovan, the head of US Southern Command, and Mark Schafer, the head of US Special Operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, met with Noboa on Monday in Quito.
According to a statement from Noboa’s office, the officials reviewed plans for information sharing and operational cooperation at seaports and airports.
The US Southern Command declared on Tuesday, “Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.”
The Trump Administration Steps Up the Regional War on Drugs
The news was made three months after the US declared that Air Force personnel would be temporarily stationed at the former US outpost in the port city of Manta.
The United States continues to place a high priority on combating drug trafficking in the area.
Since September, the Trump administration has also launched over 40 deadly attacks on suspected drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas.
In January, Naija News stated that US agents captured Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela at the time, in the fight against cartels and organized crime. He was charged by American officials with “narco-terrorism” and facilitating the importation of “thousands of tonnes” of cocaine into the country.
After months of escalating hostilities, Trump and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro met at the White House last month.
Trump has frequently blamed Petro and his administration of failing to stop the flow of drugs into the United States and hinted that Colombia would be the subject of further strikes.
