US and Ecuador launch major military operation against transnational narco-terror groups in Pacific region

So, while the whole world is watching events in the Middle East, Washington is officially opening another front.

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), together with Ecuador's armed forces, has launched a large-scale operation against transnational narco-terrorist groups, and this is no longer just police raids but a full-fledged military campaign.

March 3 became the date when decisive action began. The military operation that started on this day was a response to decades of chaos that drug mafias have spread in the region.

General Francis Donovan, head of SOUTHCOM, emphasized that current actions are decisive measures against structures that undermine security across the entire hemisphere.

On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.

Together,… pic.twitter.com/MrkKZcrDbs

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 4, 2026

First success has already been recorded: US forces intercepted and struck a violating vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The vessel was moving along drug trafficking routes that are now under round-the-clock fire control of US aviation and the Navy.

Why Ecuador

Ecuador, which previously was considered a relatively stable island of security, has recently turned into the main logistical hub for drug exports.

• Escalation of violence: gangs control entire districts and prisons, carrying out terrorist attacks and killings of politicians.
• Army in action: the president of Ecuador granted the army extraordinary powers to fight gangs, equating them with terrorists.
• US support: Washington provides not only intelligence data but also direct force support to clear transit routes.

General Donovan highly praised the "powerful example of the commitment" of Ecuadorian colleagues. According to him, their commitment to fighting narco-terrorism is an example for the entire region.

In addition, joint actions by the US and Ecuadorian militaries include not only maritime intercepts but also coordination of ground operations to detect laboratories and logistical bases in the jungle.

"Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere," the statement by SOUTHCOM said.

Military analysts believe the involvement of the US in direct operations in Ecuador indicates a change in White House strategy. This is no longer just a war on drugs but a full-fledged counterterrorism campaign.

Back in late January, US President Donald Trump warned that American troops could begin ground operations against drug cartels anywhere, including Mexico and countries of Central and South America, as part of an intensified fight against drug trafficking.

Recently in Mexico, Nemesio Oseguera — one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the world, better known as El Mencho — was eliminated.