Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced on Monday that his country is launching a new phase of operations against narco-terrorism and illegal mining, with support from U.S. military forces. The move follows a visit by General Francis L. Donovan, the commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), who traveled to Ecuador to meet with Noboa and defense officials, marking his second trip to the region since taking office in February.

Escalation of Joint Operations

On Tuesday night, SOUTHCOM confirmed that U.S. and Ecuadorian forces had begun operations targeting designated terrorist organizations in the region. The announcement emphasized the commitment of both nations to combat narco-terrorism, which has been a growing threat in the Western Hemisphere.

President Noboa stated in a message on X: ‘We are launching a new phase against narco-terrorism and illegal mining. In the month of March, we will conduct joint operations with our regional allies, including the United States. The security of Ecuadorians is our priority, and we will fight to achieve peace in every corner of the country.’

The U.S. embassy in Quito had previously stated that the deployment of U.S. Air Force personnel to Ecuador’s Manta air force base was part of a ‘short-term joint effort’ as part of a ‘long-term bilateral security strategy.’ The operation aimed to enhance Ecuador’s military capacity to combat narco-terrorists, improve intelligence gathering, and strengthen anti-drug trafficking capabilities.

Ecuador’s Rising Violent Crime

Ecuador has experienced a dramatic rise in violent crime over the past few years. In 2020, the country had one of the lowest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere. However, by 2023, it had one of the highest, surpassing even Mexico in murder rates. Analysts point to a combination of factors, including political mismanagement, corruption, gang violence, and drug trafficking as the primary causes.

FARC factions from Colombia have been linked to the establishment of cocaine trafficking routes across Ecuador. Additionally, the murder of a gang leader in 2021 led to the fragmentation of the Los Choneros gang into rival factions, resulting in prison and street wars funded by Mexican cartels. By 2023, an estimated 70% of global cocaine traffic passed through Ecuador.

The mass migration from Venezuela, under the administration of Nicolás Maduro, also placed pressure on Ecuador’s infrastructure, though the direct link to increased violence remains debated. In 2024, President Noboa declared an ‘internal armed conflict’ and designated several gangs as terrorist organizations, setting up a nightly curfew and bringing in the military to combat the violence.

Trump’s Escalation of U.S. Involvement

Under the Biden administration, U.S. support for Ecuador was primarily limited to intelligence sharing, sanctions, and diplomatic and financial backing. However, with the Trump administration’s policies, military involvement has increased significantly. In September 2023, Senator Marco Rubio visited Ecuador, and the U.S. designated two major criminal groups, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

General Donovan’s recent visit to Ecuador highlights the growing U.S. commitment to the region. According to SOUTHCOM, the operations are a ‘powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.’

While details of the latest operations are still emerging, the move aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of using military force to disrupt drug trafficking and reduce violence in the hemisphere. The administration has previously focused on targeting narco-boat trafficking in the Caribbean, and this new phase of operations in Ecuador appears to be a continuation of that approach.

Analysts suggest that these operations could have a significant impact on the flow of cocaine and fentanyl into the United States. By targeting the infrastructure of narco-terrorist networks, the U.S. aims to curb the violence and crime associated with drug trafficking. Additionally, such efforts may help reduce mass migration from Ecuador, as the country has seen a surge in people fleeing to safer regions in recent years.

While some media outlets have framed the operations as a potential escalation of conflict, the focus remains on partnership between Ecuador and the United States to enhance regional security. Unlike the situation in Iran, the operations in Ecuador are framed as a collaborative effort to ensure stability and safety for both nations.