Ecuador

Ecuador has become a central focus of the US anti-drug campaign in Latin America, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailing the nation as its "most involved and aggressive partner." Recent developments include significant US security funding and naval vessels being provided to Ecuador, alongside the designation of the notorious Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as a terrorist organization by the US. US forces have conducted strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in Ecuadorian waters, leading to some fishermen reporting hostile encounters, including detention and destruction of their vessels. Rubio has defended these actions, emphasizing the threat of drug cartels and stating that the US will "blow up ships if need be" while working with allied nations. This increased US military involvement in the region, framed as a fight against a "cancer" of drug cartels, positions Ecuador at the forefront of these regional security efforts.