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US military anti-drug operations in Latin America

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-21 18:02 UTC → 2026-08-21 19:17 UTC · added removed

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, including military members, civilians, and contractors. 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. The These regulations grant these personnel judicial immunity and exemptions from migration fees for both personnel and aircraft. Entry requires a valid U.S. passport or official identification alongside a Department of Defense movement order. fees. To bolster interdiction in coastal cities like Manta, interdiction, Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo announced confirmed the arrival of two U.S. assets, including two warships, interceptor boats, and three Black Hawk helicopters helicopters, to monitor maritime zones. This escalation follows zones and disrupt networks moving cocaine to the U.S. and Europe. However, Human Rights Watch has raised concerns regarding a severe security crisis lack of transparency in Ecuador, where homicide rates reached a record 52 per 100,000 inhabitants last year. 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.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-21 19:17 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America
  2. 2026-08-21 18:02 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America
  3. 2026-08-21 06:57 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America
  4. 2026-08-21 04:41 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America
  5. 2026-08-21 00:21 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America
  6. 2026-08-21 00:03 UTC US military anti-drug operations in Latin America

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