Ecuador says it will begin law enforcement operations against criminal activity in three regions with US support. Ecuador is a member of a US-led anti-cartel coalition in Latin America.
Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg explained that the US was providing logistical support for the criminal crackdown. He requested that people in three provinces comply with a nightly curfew from March 15 to 30.
“We do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,” Reimberg said. “We have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.”
Last week, Trump announced the new military organization, along with Latin American leaders, at his Doral resort in Florida, dubbed Shield of the Americans. Ecuador is one of a dozen Latin American countries to join the bloc.
Earlier this month, the US conducted joint operations with Ecuador. Department of War Spokesman Sean Parnell said that US soldiers worked with the Ecuadorian military to take down a drug-smuggling facility. It is unclear if there were casualties.
Under President Trump, the US has ramped up military activity in Latin America. The Department of War has conducted strikes on dozens of alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing over 150 people. The US also attacked Venezuela and kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro.
