Seventy percent of the world’s cocaine flows through Ecuadorian ports. That is a staggering number. It means this small South American nation controls the main gateway for drugs heading to American streets. An FBI official told lawmakers this fact earlier this year. The data comes from the Congressional Research Service. Criminal groups fight bitterly for control of these routes. They move cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru. The markets abroad are hungry for supply. Ecuador has become the frontline of this war. It used to be one of Latin America’s safer countries. Now it is a battlefield. President Daniel Noboa declared an internal armed conflict. He deployed the military against criminal groups. The violence has surged dramatically. The stakes are enormous for everyone involved.
The United States has changed its approach. President Donald Trump prioritized threats closer to home. The focus shifted back to the Western Hemisphere. Ecuador emerged as a key ally in this effort. Foreign Minister Roberto Kury spoke to Fox News Digital. He described the cooperation as delivering positive results. US intelligence helps uncover drug shipments. Joint operations happen on the ground every day. Kury said US forces work alongside Ecuadorian police. They do not act alone. They work together with local authorities. This partnership is unlike anything seen before. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Ecuador. He called it the most aggressive partner in the region. Elite forces from both nations coordinate daily. Their goal is to dismantle terrorist organizations.
Recent actions show this strategy in motion. US and Ecuadorian forces neutralized a high-value target. Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo confirmed the operation. The target was known as Charlie. He belonged to the Los Choneros group. He had ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His mission was to sow terror in the country. Loffredo stated the choice was jail or hell. This target did not make it to jail. War Secretary Pete Hegseth amplified the message. He noted the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition is in action. The US military is also shifting resources. MQ-9 Reaper drones are moving from Africa to Latin America. They are heading to US Southern Command. This signals a growing military footprint in the region.
Sovereignty remains a key concern for Quito. Kury stopped short of giving Washington free rein. He said Ecuador respects its own sovereignty. US involvement is welcome only when aligned with local forces. The drug trade is estimated at $30 billion a year. President Noboa asks for help every day. He seeks to choke off the flow of narcotics. Kury said countries need more than just money. They require intelligence and technical cooperation. The Shield of the Americas initiative supports this effort. Ecuador also agreed to accept some deported nationals. This is part of the broader immigration agenda. The relationship extends beyond just fighting cartels. The whole continent is working together. The partnership is expanding by the day.