U.S. Osprey aircraft support Ecuadorian military operations in the Amazon

United States MV-22B Osprey aircraft have arrived in Ecuador to support military operations in the Amazonian province of Orellana. The deployment is described as a milestone in bilateral defense cooperation, enhancing the mobility, transport, and logistical support capabilities of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces.

The operations are concentrated in the Alto Punino area, an enclave used for illegal mining located approximately 70 kilometers from the Colombian border. Ecuadorian military forces are working to dismantle camps belonging to the Comandos de la Frontera, a dissident group of the FARC, which President Daniel Noboa has designated as a terrorist organization. The group reportedly operates in coordination with Los Lobos, a major Ecuadorian criminal gang.

During recent actions in the sector, the military detained nine suspected members of the Comandos de la Frontera and destroyed three illegal mining camps. The arrival of the Osprey aircraft occurs amid U.S. Navy operations in the Eastern Pacific and precedes a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.