Rubio says US will partner with allies on drug‑trafficking while retaining right to strike vessels

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Quito on Tuesday, signaling a renewed willingness to cooperate with Ecuador on counter‑narcotics operations after a year‑long campaign of unilateral strikes against vessels deemed “narco‑terrorist” in international waters. In remarks to Ecuadorian officials, Rubio emphasized that the Trump administration now seeks to coordinate actions with regional allies, aligning its efforts with the legal frameworks of partner nations while maintaining the option to use force when necessary.

The statement marks a public acknowledgment of a strategic shift that follows Washington’s 2023 decision to conduct independent lethal attacks on suspected drug‑smuggling boats operating beyond national jurisdictions. By pledging collaborative enforcement and reiterating that “the military will still blow up ships if need be,” the United States aims to balance respect for sovereign law with its broader objective of disrupting trans‑national drug trafficking in Latin America’s maritime corridors.