In a bold move to disrupt drug trafficking in Latin America, the United States and Ecuador have unveiled a security partnership aimed at breaking the grip of violent cartels. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during his visit to Quito last week, announced new measures focused on two major foreign terrorist organizations accused of using terrorism and violence to control key drug routes through Ecuador.
The U.S. government has warned that these criminal gangs are increasingly turning to terror tactics in their bid to dominate transit corridors between Andean coca-producing regions and global markets. By elevating the fight against cartels into a broader counterterrorism effort, Washington is signaling a tougher stance on Latin American drug networks.
For Ecuador—a country strategically positioned as a gateway to major Pacific ports—the partnership offers support for local law enforcement grappling with cartel-related violence. Joint efforts will aim to disrupt financing, dismantle leadership structures and protect vulnerable border communities.
This approach reshapes how the U.S. and Ecuador define drug trafficking: treating cartels not just as criminal networks but as terror-fueled threats that endanger regional stability.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
