U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning, declaring that the United States will “blow up” foreign criminal organizations if required, even in cooperation with allied nations.
“Now they will help us find these people and blow them up, if that’s what it takes,” Rubio said during an official visit to Ecuador.
Rubio also announced that the U.S. will designate two of Ecuador’s largest gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations.
The statement comes just days after U.S. forces carried out a strike in the Caribbean Sea, targeting a vessel linked to drug trafficking. According to the White House, 11 drug traffickers were killed in the operation, though their identities were not disclosed.
When asked whether smugglers operating from U.S. allies like Mexico or Ecuador could face “unilateral execution” by American forces, Rubio stressed that “cooperative governments” would assist in locating and targeting them.
“The President has said he wants to declare war on these groups, because they have declared war on us for 30 years and no one has responded. But in many cases, there is no need for that with friendly governments, since they will help us,” Rubio emphasized.
So far, the governments of Ecuador and Mexico have not confirmed whether they would support potential U.S. military operations against these groups.
Following Tuesday’s strike in the southern Caribbean, President Donald Trump said the mission targeted members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, who were allegedly trafficking narcotics toward the United States.
