# US military anti-drug operations in Latin America

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-military-anti-drug-operations-in-latin-america
> Updated: 2026-08-21T01:58:00.000Z. Sources: 48. Developments: 4.

The United States is expanding its military anti-drug campaign in Latin America, transitioning from maritime strikes to include land-based operations. This shift aims to target the logistical structures of criminal organizations on land rather than focusing solely on intercepting vessels at sea.

In Ecuador, joint operations are active near the Colombian border as part of the ‘Shield of the Americas’ coalition, a group of approximately 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations. These operations, conducted under strict secrecy, involve the U.S. Army’s 7th Group, a special forces unit specialized in unconventional warfare and insurgency suppression, according to Esmeraldas Governor Juan Jaramillo. Operations have been confirmed in areas such as San Lorenzo, Río Verde, and Eloy Alfaro.

To formalize this presence, the Ecuadorian government issued a ministerial agreement to regulate the entry of U.S. Department of Defense personnel. Based on the existing Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), authorized individuals may enter via a special registry known as ‘Acts of Commerce and Activities’ without a visa and stay for up to 180 non-renewable days per calendar year. These regulations grant personnel judicial immunity and exemptions from migration fees.

To bolster interdiction, Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo confirmed the arrival of U.S. assets, including two warships, interceptor boats, and three Black Hawk helicopters, to monitor maritime zones and disrupt networks moving cocaine to the U.S. and Europe. However, Human Rights Watch has raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency in these missions. Following investigations in San Martín and near the Galápagos coast, the organization highlighted potential human rights violations and questioned the specific role and intelligence utilized by U.S. forces.

## Claims

- The Ecuadorian government issued a ministerial agreement to regulate the entry of US Department of Defense personnel. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- US military and defense personnel can enter Ecuador without a visa using a special registry called ‘Acts of Commerce and Activities’. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The new regulations are based on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Ecuador and the United States. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The security cooperation aims to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The Ecuadorian government and the United States are conducting joint operations to combat narcoterrorism. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Ecuadorian maritime interdiction capabilities will increase threefold due to the arrival of US assets. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Two US warships and three Black Hawk helicopters have arrived to support operations in Manta. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The operations are part of the Shield of the Americas anti-drug coalition. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The agreement includes exemptions from migration fees for US personnel and aircraft. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Ecuador recorded a homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 inhabitants last year. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Ecuador and US launch joint military operations against drug cartels

Ecuador and the US are conducting joint military operations against drug cartels under the ‘Shield of the Americas’ coalition, amid rising violence and human rights concerns from monitors.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecuador-and-us-launch-joint-military-operations-against-drug-trafficking-1

### 2026-08-19: Ecuador grants visa-free entry and immunity to US defense personnel

Ecuador has implemented new rules allowing U.S. military and defense personnel to enter the country without a visa and with judicial immunity to support joint operations against drug trafficking.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecuador-implements-new-entry-rules-for-us-military-and-contractors

### 2026-08-19: US and Ecuador launch joint military operations against drug trafficking

The US and Ecuador are conducting joint military operations against narco-terrorism in northern Ecuador as part of the Shield of the Americas coalition to combat rising drug trafficking and violence.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-military-expands-anti-drug-operations-to-land-and-maritime-zones

### 2026-08-16: U.S. expands military anti-drug campaign to land in Latin America

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to expand anti-drug military operations from sea to land in Latin America, targeting designated terrorist organizations in partner nations.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-military-expands-anti-drug-campaign-to-land-in-latin-america

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Cite as: US military anti-drug operations in Latin America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-military-anti-drug-operations-in-latin-america