U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended recent U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels during a visit to Ecuador on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgent need to confront Latin American drug cartels. Speaking in Quito after talks with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Rubio described the cartels as a growing threat that could destabilize countries in the region if left unchallenged.
Since the return of the Trump administration, the United States has intensified operations targeting boats suspected of moving narcotics along established routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to Pentagon data, these missions have resulted in the deaths of more than 200 individuals. However, the campaign has drawn criticism from human rights groups, fishermen, and families who argue that some vessels have been targeted without clear evidence of involvement in drug trafficking. Experts have also questioned the effectiveness of the strikes in reducing the flow of cocaine and other drugs into the U.S., the largest consumer worldwide.
Rubio insisted that the operations would continue, highlighting cooperation with a new wave of conservative leaders in the region who share a willingness to take aggressive measures against criminal organizations. "If you don't confront these groups, they will eat these countries alive," Rubio said, warning the cartels resemble a cancer eroding state authority. He praised regional governments for their commitment to combating these groups, suggesting that failure to act would result in repeated state collapses.
Recently, U.S.-Ecuadorian joint patrols have implemented a modified approach involving the removal of crews from vessels prior to sinking them. Rubio noted that decisions on whether to destroy boats are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the threat posed, vessel location, and compliance with local laws. “When you're conducting a joint operation in territorial waters, you have to reach an understanding as to how those operations are going to occur,” he said.
On the day of Rubio’s visit, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced it had conducted a lethal strike on a “go-fast” boat operating along known trafficking routes in the Caribbean, killing three suspected narco-terrorists. Video footage shared by SOUTHCOM showed the targeted vessel exploding and catching fire.
Ecuador has experienced significant violence linked to drug gangs competing for control of its trafficking routes, with more than 25,000 murders reported over the past three years. Rubio characterized the gangs as heavily armed organizations comparable to national militaries. In a related move, he declared the Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones a “terrorist organization” and announced sanctions against seven former Ecuadorian officials. The gang drew international attention earlier this year after a violent attack on a live TV broadcast.
Rubio’s visit forms part of a broader regional tour that includes Colombia, where he pledged to rebuild relations after years of leftist governance. He also criticized Mexico’s approach to tackling cartels, describing large areas as effectively ungoverned and insisting the threat must be confronted decisively.
His final stop is in Peru, where he is set to meet with President Keiko Fujimori to promote the U.S.-backed “Shield of the Americas” security partnership aimed at enhancing regional cooperation against organized crime.