The Trump administration is adopting a firm position against drug traffickers. During a joint news conference in Ecuador with the country’s foreign minister, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the President intends to “wage war” against narco-terrorists.
“It’s a war on killers. It’s a war on terror. These are not narco-traffickers, these are individuals who terrorize the countries they operate in,” Rubio stated.
While expressing the U.S.’s readiness to assist Ecuador in its efforts against drug traffickers, he also emphasized that the bilateral relationship would extend beyond security concerns. The secretary of state indicated that the U.S. aims to broaden its already “vibrant economic relationship” with the South American nation.
These comments were made alongside the announcement of the new designations of Los Choneros and Los Lobos, both originating in Ecuador, as foreign terrorist organizations. Furthermore, the U.S. committed $13.7 million towards combating drugs and crime, in addition to $6 million worth of unmanned aircraft vehicle systems (UAVS) for the Ecuadorian Navy.
Rubio underscored the significance of these designations, explaining that they enable nations to share intelligence that “can be actioned for potentially lethal operations,” thereby empowering the host country to neutralize the terrorists.
The secretary of state also addressed threats originating from Venezuela and a recent U.S. strike in that country. He mentioned that the United Nations has suggested Venezuela is not involved in the drug trade.
“I don’t care what the U.N. says. The U.N. doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Maduro is indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York,” Rubio asserted regarding the Venezuelan leader.
“That means the Southern District of New York presented the evidence to a grand jury, and a grand jury indicted him. And then a superseding indictment came out that was unsealed about a year and a half ago that specifically detailed Maduro’s actions. So, number one, let there be no doubt he, Nicolás Maduro, is an indicted drug trafficker in the United States, and he’s a fugitive of American justice.”
Rubio also spoke of “cooperative governments,” which he stated would aid the U.S. in identifying and locating drug traffickers.
“They’re going to help us identify them – they’re going to help us find these people and blow them up, if that’s what it takes. They’re going to help us with it,” Rubio remarked.
Earlier this week, the U.S. carried out an unprecedented strike on a cartel-operated vessel off the coast of Venezuela. This action signaled a tougher new approach by the Trump administration in countering the international drug trade. The strike resulted in the deaths of 11 members of Tren de Aragua, an organization the Trump administration designated as a terrorist entity in February.
“Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “BEWARE!”