Faced with the transnational challenges posed by organized crime and drug trafficking, Ecuador and the United States are strengthening their commitment to implement actions and cooperation programs aimed at improving the response capability of Ecuadorian authorities and guaranteeing citizen security in the region.
One of the cornerstones of this collaboration is the expansion of security forces skills to face the current threats posed by narcotics flow and terrorism. For instance, in August 2025, service members of Ecuador’s 9th Special Forces Brigade — an elite unit of the Ecuadorian Army — perfected their air assault operations capabilities through specialized training with the Kentucky National Guard, as part of the State Partnership Program.
“The most pressing institutional needs are to strengthen justice and security forces: armed forces and police,” Dr. Carla Álvarez, a professor at the School of Security and Defense of Ecuador’s Institute of Higher National Studies told Diálogo in a December 2024 interview. “It’s important to strengthen capacities and hire more people who can take on the workload faced by the justice and security forces.”
To further boost this synergy, in September 2025, the United States confirmed a substantial increase in assistance. The U.S. government announced nearly $20 million in new security funding, of which $6 million will go toward drones for the Ecuadorian Navy, signaling a commitment to enhancing maritime interdiction capabilities and domain awareness.
In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard reinforced this effort with the delivery of two of its 33.5-meter patrol boats to the Ecuadorian Navy. This strategic equipment is designed to enhance maritime interdiction capabilities and counternarcotics operations, underscoring the strong cooperation between the two countries.
Strategic successes and unprecedented actions
These initiatives support Ecuador’s efforts to curb the escalating violence of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The nation’s strategic response began in January 2024, when President Daniel Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” and designated 22 violent criminal organizations as terrorist groups, allowing the military to join the fight.
This strategy has yielded major victories: In September 2025, the United States formally designated the Ecuadorian gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This action elevates the organizations to the status of a counter-terrorism threat and unlocks powerful international legal and financial tools. This strategic cooperation also includes legal expertise to fast-track the extradition of key criminal leaders. In July 2025, Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias Fito, was extradited to the United States to face federal drug and gun charges, marking a historic use of judicial cooperation to dismantle TCO leadership.
“The FTO designation brings all sorts of options for Washington to work in conjunction with the government of Ecuador to crack down on these groups,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Quito, emphasizing the increased range of legal and operational tools available through partnership.
Meanwhile the intense work of the Security Bloc (the coordinated effort between the Ecuadorian police and military forces launched in January 2024) continues, the combined force has neutralized thousands of criminals and seized vast quantities of drugs and weapons. This sustained pressure has contributed to a reduction in certain violent crimes, demonstrating the effectiveness of the strategy.
“Crime prevention in communities is fundamental,” U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Art Brown said in late 2024. “We support projects that foster cooperation among neighbors, a sense of belonging, and community strengthening.”
In a joint statement issued in September 2025, following the FTO designations by the United States, Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense formally recognized the vital support of its partners, thanking neighboring countries and particularly the United States for the continuous intelligence exchange and operational backing provided during missions against drug trafficking.
For her part, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld said that Ecuador wants to see the region free of “threats from transnational organized crime groups and terrorist groups that want to subjugate our citizens.”
Note: This article is a revised and updated version of a report originally published in December 2024.
