US gives Ecuador nearly $20 million in new funding, drones to fight drug gangs

The United States has promised to support Ecuador's fight against drug cartels, announcing nearly 20 million U.S. dollars in new funding.

The announcement was made during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Quito, Ecuador, on Thursday, where he unveiled 13.5 million dollars in security assistance for general anti-cartel operations and an additional 6 million dollars to equip the Ecuadorian Navy with surveillance drones.

Rubio also designated Ecuador's most notorious gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations, referring to them as "vicious animals."

The designation grants the U.S. broader authority to freeze assets, target operations, and enhance intelligence-sharing capabilities.

Ecuador's President, Daniel Noboa, expressed support for tighter cooperation with the U.S., including the possibility of reinstating a U.S. military base in the country.

This decision comes in response to a surge in violence and drug trafficking driven by cartels in Ecuador.