US begins joint military operations in Ecuador targeting drug cartels

2026-03-05 - 03:53

QUITO — 5 March 2026, The United States has begun joint military operations with Ecuador aimed at dismantling organised crime groups and drug trafficking networks, marking a new phase in security cooperation between the two countries. The operation, announced by the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), targets what the US military described as “designated terrorist organisations” operating inside Ecuador. Ecuadorian armed forces are conducting raids with support from US personnel. Details about the location and scale of the operations have not been disclosed, and Ecuador’s defence ministry said aspects of the mission remain classified. SOUTHCOM Commander Francis L. Donovan praised Ecuador’s forces for their cooperation in the campaign. “Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere,” Donovan said in a statement. The operations were launched on 3 March and involve Ecuadorian special operations units conducting ground raids while US forces provide intelligence, planning and logistical support, according to reports. Aerial footage from U.S. SOUTHCOM shows soldiers and helicopters during a military exercise in an open area The move comes as Ecuador faces a sharp rise in violence linked to drug trafficking groups that use the country’s ports and borders as key transit points for cocaine shipments moving to North America and Europe. President Daniel Noboa said the joint operations represent a “new phase” in Ecuador’s fight against organised crime, as his government seeks stronger international partnerships to restore security. Ecuador has struggled with escalating cartel-related violence in recent years, prompting the government to deploy the military domestically and pursue cooperation agreements with allied countries to assist its police and armed forces. The US operation is also part of a broader regional campaign against drug trafficking launched by Washington, which has increasingly used military assets across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific to intercept suspected smuggling networks. Neither government has said how long the operation in Ecuador will continue.