Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated Los Choneros and Los Lobos as terrorist organizations after meeting with the Ecuadorian President. President Donald Trump claimed a boat near Venezuela that was attacked by the US military was operated by a cartel on the narco-terrorism list.
A State Department press release on Thursday explained, “Today, Secretary Rubio announced the designations of Los Choneros and Los Lobos as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). ”
The announcement followed a meeting between Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azin and Rubio. Azin embraced the prospect of the US taking action against the designated gangs.
“Los Choneros and Los Lobos can keep believing that no one touches them,” he wrote on X following the meeting. “But the reality is different: they have been declared terrorist groups by the United States, with their support we will remain firm in our fight to recover our country.”
Los Choneros y Los Lobos pueden seguir creyendo que nadie los toca.
Pero la realidad es otra: han sido declarados como grupos terroristas por Estados Unidos, con su apoyo seguiremos firmes en nuestra lucha por recuperar nuestro país. @SecRubio pic.twitter.com/DrupMWwMO5
— Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) September 4, 2025
About a dozen Latin American cartels have been placed on terrorism lists. President Donald Trump has authorized the military to conduct lethal attacks against the gangs.
On Tuesday, Trump ordered the military to strike a boat near Venezuela. The President alleged that the vessel was operated by a narco-terrorist group, and the strike killed 11 people. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon was preparing to take further lethal actions.
Reports say the Department of Defense is preparing to carry out raids and strikes in Mexico and Venezuela. Mexico City and Caracas have expressed opposition to the US conducting military operations within their borders.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has mobilized millions of militia troops and is threatening a bloody war if the US invades. A White House official speaking with Axios said that the administration was considering a regime change operation similar to the 1989 invasion of Panama.
