U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a three-nation tour of South America aimed at enhancing security cooperation with conservative leaders who have aligned with U.S. interests, notably in the administration's focus on combating drug trafficking.
Rubio's visit to Ecuador on Wednesday marks the second leg of his tour. He met Tuesday in Colombia with President Abelardo de la Espriella and is scheduled to travel to Lima, Peru, to meet with President Keiko Fujimori. In Quito, Rubio is engaging with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, whose government has adopted a firm stance on counternarcotics and immigration, mirroring U.S. policy.
Ecuador, situated between Colombia and Peru—the world's leading cocaine producers—has been contending with escalating drug-related violence since 2021. Rival cartels have formed alliances with local gangs, engaging in conflicts over control of cocaine smuggling routes and ports.
Under Noboa's leadership, Ecuador has emerged as a significant partner for the U.S. in regional counterdrug initiatives. This collaboration was underscored by a recent U.S. military operation coinciding with Rubio's trip, during which a vessel linked to the Ecuadorian criminal group Los Choneros was intercepted and sunk. This marked the sixth such operation in less than two weeks.
In contrast to earlier U.S. strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters, which began in September 2025 and resulted in the deaths of at least 227 individuals accused by the Trump administration of being "narcoterrorists" without public evidence, individuals aboard intercepted vessels are now removed and handed over to Ecuadorian authorities.
During remarks in Barranquilla, Colombia, de la Espriella and Rubio emphasized the renewed strength of U.S.-Colombia relations, particularly in security cooperation, which had experienced a lull under the previous Colombian administration. Rubio stated that the countries share numerous common interests, including addressing transnational criminal terrorism and engaging in economic partnerships. He characterized the current trend in the Western Hemisphere as an alignment with U.S. objectives and interests.