US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that Washington will “blow up” foreign cartels if necessary, signalling an aggressive shift in America’s war on transnational crime.
During a high-profile visit to Ecuador, Rubio confirmed plans to label Los Lobos and Los Choneros—two of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs—as foreign terrorist organisations. “They’re going to help us find these people and blow them up, if that’s what it takes,” he said, referring to allied governments like Ecuador and Mexico.
This policy marks a dramatic expansion of US counter-narcotics efforts, allowing for:
Targeted military strikes abroad, Asset freezes and unrestricted intelligence sharing, and Potentially lethal operations with or without host nation approval
The move follows a recent US strike on a Caribbean vessel that killed 11 alleged traffickers linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Legal experts have warned that such actions risk breaching international human rights and maritime law.
Ecuador has seen violence surge as cartels battle for control of cocaine routes, with about 70% of global supply now transiting its territory. President Daniel Noboa has declared a “war” on organised crime and is seeking constitutional changes to allow foreign military bases to return—14 years after the last US base closed.
The US has pledged $13.5 million in security assistance and $6 million in drone technology to support Noboa’s campaign.
The crackdown may also reshape migration dynamics, as thousands of Ecuadorians flee cartel violence each year. Experts warn that while victims of designated groups may gain stronger asylum claims, those who paid extortion under duress risk being treated as “supporters” of terrorism.
Tensions with Venezuela are escalating after the Pentagon accused its air force of a “highly provocative” manoeuvre near a US counter-narcotics vessel. Caracas has yet to respond.
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