Ecuador-US joint anti-drug maritime operations 2026
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US targeting of Ecuadorian fishermen investigation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration would seek $45m in additional security funding for Ecuador.
According to The Washington Post, the operation targeting the Fiorella was part of a covert US programme led by the CIA.
Rubio confirmed that elite forces from the US were working with Ecuador to dismantle what he called terrorist organisations.
US forces strike suspected narco-terrorist vessel in Eastern Pacific, killing three
The Pentagon said Operation Southern Spear had carried out 67 strikes as of late August, beginning with the first operation on Sept. 2, 2025.
The Department of War said confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking and that the operation killed three narco-terrorists.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed to allow the U.S. to conduct joint operations against criminal groups on their soil, though Guatemala denied that an agreement had been reached.
US announces $45m in security funding and additional naval vessels for Ecuador
The US previously delivered seven vessels to Ecuador earlier in the year.
The Tuesday interception was the sixth such US operation in less than two weeks.
Noboa has called the conflict with drug-traffickers a 'state of war'.
US designates notorious Ecuadorian crime gang as terrorist group
Rubio described the gang members as terrorists possessing weapons and equipment resembling national armies of certain countries.
Rubio and De La Espriella signed memorandums of understanding on critical minerals and nuclear energy.
Rubio said the Los Tiguerones gang was linked to narcotics trafficking and attacks on civilians, law enforcement officers, and journalists.
US forces sink narco-refueling station linked to Ecuadorian cartel in Pacific
Forces with Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere interdicted the refueling vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
SOUTHCOM said the vessel was involved with the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization.
State Department deputy spokesperson Thomas Pigott said the cartel's ultimate goal is to control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador.
Ecuador defends US sinking of vessels as joint anti-drug operation
SOUTHCOM stated that individuals removed from the vessel would be safely transferred to Ecuadorian authorities and that US forces sank the vessel once cleared.
The Ecuadorian navy said it received 28 crew members from a vessel and another boat that was sunk on Wednesday, and that they arrived in Manta on board a local coastguard vessel.
Ecuador defended a US operation that sank three Ecuadorian vessels accused of sustaining drug-trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.
Families of missing Ecuadorian fishermen allege US involvement
The families believe the missing fishermen could be victims of a US drone strike or detention.
The families of the missing fishermen are demanding answers.
Eight Ecuadorian fishermen vanished at sea after reporting US surveillance.