Rubio Vows US Will Target Foreign Gangs, Pledges Security Support for Ecuador
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delivered one of Washington’s toughest warnings yet against international cartels, saying the United States is ready to destroy violent criminal groups operating abroad if necessary.
During a visit to Ecuador, Rubio said the fight against gangs is a shared responsibility and hinted that military force remains on the table. “They’re going to help us identify these people — and if it takes blowing them up, that’s what we’ll do,” he said.
Washington Labels Ecuador’s Largest Gangs as Terrorist Groups
Rubio announced that the US will officially classify Los Lobos and Los Choneros, Ecuador’s most powerful gangs, as foreign terrorist organizations. The designation expands Washington’s ability to seize their assets, block funding, and provide intelligence to Ecuadorian authorities.
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa had lobbied for the move, describing his country’s war on cartels as a battle for national survival. Noboa has also pushed for constitutional changes to allow foreign military bases back in Ecuador, a policy shift from the closure of the last US base in 2009.
US Strike in the Caribbean Raises Legal Questions
The announcement follows a controversial American military strike in the southern Caribbean earlier this week. According to the White House, the attack killed 11 suspected members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang moving narcotics toward the US.
The Pentagon also accused Venezuelan military aircraft of shadowing a US vessel in what it called a “provocative attempt” to disrupt anti-drug operations. Venezuela has not yet responded.
Some legal experts warned that the strike could breach international maritime and human rights law, reviving debates over the limits of Washington’s counter-narcotics campaign.
Millions in Aid and Drone Support for Ecuador
Alongside the new designations, Rubio announced $13.5 million in security funding and $6 million in drone technology for Ecuador to bolster anti-cartel operations.
Ecuador has become a critical hub in the global cocaine trade, with government figures showing that nearly 70% of the world’s supply now passes through its ports from Colombia and Peru en route to markets in North America, Europe, and Asia.
The influx of criminal groups has triggered a wave of violence inside Ecuador and fueled migration northward, as families flee extortion, kidnappings, and killings linked to cartels.
Asylum Questions and Regional Impact
Human rights lawyers say designating Ecuador’s gangs as terrorist organizations could complicate asylum cases in the US. Victims of extortion might qualify as survivors of terrorism, but others could risk penalties for having “materially supported” the same gangs under duress.
Rubio, however, emphasized that the US intends to work with allies. “The president has made it clear: these groups have been waging war on us for 30 years, and we’re finally responding. With friendly governments, there’s no need for unilateral action — they’ll help us,” he said.
Ecuador at the Center of a Global Drug War
President Noboa has described his campaign against cartels as nothing less than a war. He has urged both the US and European nations to back Ecuador’s efforts, saying the international drug trade cannot be defeated by one country alone.
With Washington’s latest moves — from designations and sanctions to military cooperation and drone support — Ecuador is now on the front line of a growing international push against organized crime.