In early September 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made an official visit to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, as part of a high-level diplomatic mission. The visit took place at a time when Ecuador was struggling with a wave of violence fueled by powerful gangs, and Venezuela was reacting strongly after the US sank a boat allegedly linked to drug smugglers. During a joint press conference with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Rubio announced that the U.S. would officially designate Ecuador’s most notorious criminal organizations, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations.[i] This step marks a significant change in American policy. It broadens the counterterrorism framework to include organized crime groups. Furthermore, this step gives US authorities the ability to target these groups’ financial assets, restrict their global movement, and, when necessary, legitimize international military operations.[ii]
The timing of Rubio’s statement was remarkable. Just a few days earlier, US forces had launched an operation in the southern Caribbean and sunk a boat allegedly linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. Eleven people were reported to have died in the incident, and US officials claimed the boat was carrying drugs. Rubio defended the attack as a decisive step demonstrating the seriousness of Washington’s new approach, and President Trump stated that the operation would force the cartels to think twice before continuing their drug shipments. On the other hand, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro considered the attack a violation of sovereignty, put his country’s military forces on alert, and announced that they would resist any further escalation.[iii] This development casts a heavy shadow over Rubio’s contacts in Quito and demonstrates that the US’s anti-drug efforts are now pushing the boundaries on both the diplomatic and military fronts.[iv]
Rubio’s statements in Ecuador have been direct, harsh, and intended to intimidate. Referring to the Los Lobos and Los Choneros organizations as “wild animals, these terrorists,” Rubio argued that the US is no longer just a country chasing drug dealers with speedboats, but is waging war against structures that target Americans and destabilize the region. This rhetoric defines the groups in question not only as smugglers but also as political actors spreading terror and corruption, demonstrating that the “War on Terror” rhetoric has been extended to Latin American cartels.[v]
A significant part of the visit was devoted to concrete cooperation measures. Rubio pledged approximately $20 million in new US security assistance to Ecuador. Six million dollars of this will be allocated for armed unmanned aerial vehicles to increase the capacity of the Ecuadorian Navy, while the remaining funds will be directed toward intelligence sharing, training, and general security programs. The sharing of armed drone technology is particularly significant, as this technology is usually only provided to close US military allies. Rubio also raised the possibility of reestablishing a US military base in Ecuador. Although President Noboa responded positively to this possibility, constitutional requirements dictate that such a decision must be approved by a national referendum.[vi] This possibility reveals the extent of the growing convergence between the two countries, indicating that Ecuador is reasserting its sovereignty concerns in order to secure external support against powerful criminal organizations.
Migration has also been a prominent issue in the talks. The US aims to sign a “safe third country” agreement with Ecuador to keep asylum seekers in that country until their cases are concluded. Rubio stated that Ecuador could accept around 300 refugees annually under this agreement, while the Quito administration emphasized that the number would be entirely at its discretion. In particular, this proposal highlights Ecuador’s role as a crossroads for migration routes to North America. It is also directly linked to US concerns about the flow of migrants through the Darien Gap. For Noboa, this agreement is seen as an opportunity to deepen relations with Washington and position his country as a reliable regional partner.
All of these developments are taking place against the backdrop of Ecuador’s escalating internal security crisis. The country has been shaken by gang conflicts, high-level political assassinations, prison riots as well as attacks on public institutions. Los Choneros, which historically grew through links with Mexican cartels, has become a nationwide force by also using its influence in the prison system, while Los Lobos broke away from them and spread across many states with thousands of members. These gangs have plunged Ecuadorian society into a deep atmosphere of insecurity with their capacity to infiltrate state institutions, launder money through legitimate sectors, and establish control by violence. The US declaration on these groups as terrorist organizations is an important step in terms of gaining international recognition for the crisis Ecuador is experiencing, yet it also transforms the internal security struggle into part of America’s global war strategy.
Regional outcomes remain uncertain. Venezuela has escalated its rhetoric, presenting this attack as an imperialist intervention, whereas legal experts within the US have questioned whether the operation exceeded presidential authority. Human rights advocates warn that declaring the gangs a terrorist organization could blur legal boundaries and legitimize harsh military interventions that could harm civilians. Meanwhile, there are differing views among the Ecuadorian people: some welcome US aid and advanced military technology, while others are concerned about the risk of losing the country’s sovereignty and increasing dependence on Washington.
At this point, it is evident that the US has redefined its approach to organized crime wars in Latin America. By classifying criminal organizations in the same category as terrorist organizations and demonstrating its willingness to use military force when necessary, Washington pursues a roadmap based on deterrence and rapid escalation rather than traditional law enforcement cooperation or regional police coordination. From Ecuador’s point of view, this approach may provide the necessary support in the current crisis. However, on a broader regional level, it increases the risks of a conflict in which migration, diplomacy, military strategy, and international law are intertwined, and the repercussions of this new era are likely to be felt for many years to come.
[i] “US designates 2 more gangs in Latin America as foreign terrorist groups”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/rubio-ecuador-venezuela-military-strike-immigration-0bde0bbf862734facbd0df5f5361935b, (Accessed: 06.09.2025).
[ii] “Rubio visits Ecuador as US military strike on Venezuelan boat overshadows talks”, ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rubio-visits-ecuador-us-military-strike-venezuelan-boat-125258630, (Accessed: 06.09.2025).
[iii] “US military kills 11 in strike on alleged drug boat tied to Venezuelan cartel, Trump says”, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/02/politics/us-military-strike-caribbean, (Accessed: 06.09.2025).
[iv] “Did a Boat Strike in Caribbean Exceed Trump’s Authority to Use Military Force?”, The Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/did-a-boat-strike-in-caribbean-exceed-trumps-authority-to-use-military-force-828db8c6,(Accessed: 06.09.2025).
[v] “‘It’s a war’: Marco Rubio labels Ecuadorian cartels ‘foreign terrorists’”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/4/its-a-war-marco-rubio-labels-ecuadorian-cartels-foreign-terrorists, (Accessed: 06.09.2025).
[vi] “US gives Ecuador nearly $20 million in new funding, drones to fight drug gangs”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-gives-ecuador-nearly-20-million-new-funding-drones-fight-drug-gangs-2025-09-04/, (Accessed: 06.09.2025).
