US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed Washington will take direct military action against foreign crime groups if necessary, including the possibility of “blowing them up,” during a visit to Ecuador this week.
Speaking in Quito, Rubio confirmed the United States will formally designate two of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organisations. “Now they’re gonna help us find these people and blow them up, if that’s what it takes,” he said, suggesting cooperation with allied governments to target narco-trafficking networks.
The announcement comes just days after US forces carried out a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, which the White House said killed 11 drug traffickers. Washington claims the boat was operated by members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, but it has not released the identities of those killed. Venezuela has yet to respond to a separate US allegation that two of its military aircraft flew provocatively close to a US vessel engaged in counter-narcotics operations.
When asked whether smugglers from US allies such as Mexico or Ecuador could face unilateral American action, Rubio said there was “no need” for strikes when “co-operative governments” assist Washington in identifying suspects. Both Ecuador and Mexico, however, have not publicly committed to supporting US military operations.
Security Aid and Rising Violence
Alongside the terror designation, Rubio announced Washington would provide $13.5 million in security assistance to Ecuador, including $6 million in drone technology, to help President Daniel Noboa’s government strengthen its counter-narcotics campaign.
Noboa, who has described his crackdown on gangs as a “war,” has welcomed closer cooperation with Washington. He previously told the BBC he would be “glad” if the US classified Los Lobos and Los Choneros as terrorist groups, calling them responsible for much of the violence destabilising Ecuador. Noboa is also seeking constitutional reforms to allow foreign military bases to operate in the country again, more than a decade after the last US facility was closed in 2009.
Ecuador has seen a dramatic surge in drug-related violence in recent years as gangs battle for control of lucrative smuggling routes. Government data estimates around 70% of the world’s cocaine now transits through Ecuador from Colombia and Peru on its way to markets in the US, Europe and Asia.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
The US strike earlier this week has drawn scrutiny from legal experts, who told the BBC it may have breached international maritime and human rights law. Washington insists the operation targeted narco-terrorists, though critics warn it could set a controversial precedent for military action against non-state actors at sea.
The move to label Ecuadorian cartels as terrorist organisations also raises complex questions for migration policy. Analysts note it could strengthen asylum claims for those fleeing gang violence, but might also penalise victims who were forced to pay extortion, potentially classifying them as having “materially supported” terrorism.
