Ecuadoran and US forces have launched new operations against what they described as designated terrorist organisations in Ecuador, the US military’s Southern Command said on Tuesday. The action is aimed at tackling illicit drug trafficking, although the command did not share further operational details in its statement on X.

The announcement came a day after Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa, said that the United States was among “regional allies” taking part in what he called a “new phase” of Ecuador’s war on drug cartels. Noboa has said that around 70% of the world’s cocaine now flows through Ecuador’s large ports, making the country a key and profitable location for drug-trafficking gangs.

Ecuador shares borders with Colombia and Peru, which are the world’s two largest producers of cocaine. Because of its location and port access, Ecuador has become an important transit route for drugs moving toward international markets.

The latest operations come four months after Ecuadorians voted against allowing the return of foreign military bases in the country. The referendum result dashed US hopes of expanding its presence in the eastern Pacific region. It was also seen as a setback for President Noboa, who is considered a close ally of US President Donald Trump. Noboa has been trying to fight organised crime and reduce the country’s rising violence.

In recent years, Ecuador has become one of the world’s major drug-trafficking hotspots. Violence linked to organised crime has increased sharply, with criminal groups fighting for control over routes and ports used for smuggling cocaine.

On Monday, President Noboa held talks in Quito with the chief of the US Southern Command, Francis Donovan, and Mark Schafer, who heads US Special Operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. According to a statement from Noboa’s office, they discussed plans for information sharing and operational coordination at airports and seaports.

In its statement on Tuesday, the US Southern Command said, “Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.” The command described the joint efforts as part of a broader commitment to fight drug trafficking in the region.

The announcement of the operations also comes three months after Washington announced a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to the former US base in the port city of Manta.

Tackling drug trafficking in the region remains a key priority for the United States. The Trump administration has carried out more than 40 lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean since September.

In January, the US seized Venezuela’s then-President, Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of “narco-terrorism” and enabling the transport of “thousands of tonnes” of cocaine to the US.

Last month, President Trump met his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, at the White House after months of rising tensions between the two leaders. Trump has repeatedly accused Petro and his administration of failing to stop the flow of drugs into the US. He has also suggested that expanded strikes could target Colombia if necessary.

The joint operations between the United States and Ecuador mark a new stage in their cooperation against drug cartels and narco-terrorism, as both governments step up efforts to curb cocaine trafficking and address rising violence linked to organised crime.