During a recent visit to Ecuador, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States plans to enhance its collaboration with Latin American countries to tackle the issue of drug trafficking. Rubio highlighted that this would involve seeking partnerships for joint operations with nations such as Ecuador and Colombia, focusing particularly on their territorial waters and adhering to local legal frameworks. He also stated that the US military might continue its practice of striking vessels involved in drug trafficking when deemed necessary.
Rubio’s statements come in the context of an ongoing US military initiative targeting boats suspected of drug trafficking activities. This campaign has recently resulted in an incident in the Caribbean Sea, where a strike reportedly led to the deaths of three individuals. Since the inception of this campaign in September 2025, at least 230 fatalities have been reported across 69 operations.
The Secretary of State emphasized that any future military actions would be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific threat and the location of the vessel involved. He further argued that increased cooperation with Latin American governments could significantly disrupt and eventually dismantle drug-trafficking routes in the region.
This move towards more collaborative efforts marks a shift from previous US strategies, which faced criticism for conducting unilateral strikes against vessels. These strikes had been attributed to the Trump administration’s accusations against the occupants of these boats, labeling them as associated with “narco-terrorists.”