Rubio announces new US security assistance for Ecuador
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to Quito, Ecuador, announced new financial commitments and security assistance for the country in its fight against drug trafficking networks. According to him, Washington also intends to designate the Los Tiguerones group as a foreign terrorist organization.
Funding and naval assistance
As Anadolu Agency reports, Rubio said that the US will ask Congress for $45 million in new funding to support Ecuador. He also announced a separate $10 million initiative aimed at combating illegal gold mining, gang recruitment, illicit financing, and the transportation of drugs by land and sea.
According to Rubio, the US will transfer a 110-foot Coast Guard cutter to Ecuador. The vessel is intended to strengthen the Ecuadorian navy's ability to counter the maritime movement of drugs and weapons, illegal fishing, and other threats.
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Joint operations
At a press conference with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Roberto Curi, Rubio said that elite US and Ecuadorian units are conducting joint operations against criminal groups, dismantling drug networks, and holding people accountable. He called these groups terrorist organizations rather than ordinary criminal networks.
Rubio added that Los Tiguerones will be the next group the US plans to designate as a foreign terrorist organization, after Los Lobos and Los Choneros, which were designated last year. Earlier that day, he met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa in Quito and received the National Order of Merit in the rank of Grand Cross.
