During a diplomatic tour of South America, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of Ecuador's notorious Los Tiguerones gang as a foreign terrorist organization. The move blocks the group from U.S. financial systems and aligns with the Trump administration's aggressive "Shield of the Americas" security strategy. Ecuador, led by President Daniel Noboa, has emerged as a key regional partner, participating in joint military operations and maritime interdictions that have drawn scrutiny over lethal boat strikes.
Los Tiguerones terrorist designation
- ▪The terrorist designation of Los Tiguerones aims to deny the group access to financial assets, property, and U.S. banking networks.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will designate seven former Ecuadorian government officials for accepting bribes and collaborating with terrorist organizations.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Los Tiguerones was responsible for the January 2024 armed assault on the TC Televisión network studio in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation of the Ecuador-based gang Los Tiguerones as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist on September 9, 2026.
US-Ecuador counternarcotics partnership
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that elite military forces from the United States and Ecuador are working jointly on a daily basis to dismantle terrorist organizations.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would request $45 million from Congress to fund efforts to dismantle terrorist groups in the region.
- ▪Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Roberto Kury described Ecuador as a loyal, active, and decisive ally to the United States in building a safer hemisphere.
Ecuador drug violence context
- ▪Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of internal armed conflict in 2024 and designated 22 criminal gangs, including Los Tiguerones, as terrorist organizations.
- ▪Ecuador has struggled with escalating drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs to control cocaine smuggling routes between Colombia and Peru.
Trump administration regional security strategy
- ▪The Trump administration has established the Shield of the Americas coalition to strengthen security and counternarcotics cooperation with right-wing leaders in Latin America.
- ▪The Trump administration has added approximately 20 Latin American criminal groups to the U.S. terrorism list since 2025, comparing the campaign to operations against Al Qaeda.
- ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on September 8, 2026, to discuss security and critical minerals.
Military boat strike operations
- ▪The United States and Ecuador intercepted and sank a vessel linked to the criminal group Los Choneros on September 8, 2026, marking the sixth such operation in two weeks.
- ▪U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters have killed at least 227 people since September 2025.
Debatable claims
- ▪The US designation of Los Tiguerones as a terrorist organization is justified
- ▪US military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels are justified
- ▪Ecuador's militarized crackdown on domestic criminal gangs is justified
Story comments
Loading comments…