During a visit to Ecuador, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to enhance collaboration with Latin American allies to tackle drug trafficking, emphasizing that the US military would continue to target vessels as necessary. Rubio highlighted efforts to establish agreements for joint operations with countries such as Ecuador and Colombia, focusing on operations within their territorial waters and adhering to local laws.
This announcement comes in the context of an ongoing US military campaign aimed at boats suspected of drug trafficking. The most recent operation in the Caribbean Sea reportedly resulted in three fatalities, increasing the total death toll to at least 230 across 69 operations since the initiative began in September 2025. Rubio stated that future military actions would be assessed individually, taking into consideration the nature of the threat and the vessel’s location.
Rubio asserted that enhancing cooperation with regional governments is essential to disrupting and ultimately dismantling drug-trafficking routes. He emphasized that such partnerships would be crucial in addressing the drug trade effectively. The focus on collaborative efforts marks a change from previous actions that faced criticism for being unilateral.
Earlier US strikes against vessels, which were conducted under the Trump administration, drew criticism for targeting occupants labeled as “narco-terrorists.” This shift toward greater regional cooperation is seen as a response to that criticism, aiming to foster a more unified and legally compliant approach to combatting drug trafficking in the region.