The U.S. is designating Ecuador’s largest gangs as terrorists

['Michele Kelemen', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-09-04 21:18:35

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa shake hands at the Carondelet presidential palace in Quito, Ecuador, on Thursday. He pledged $13.5 million in security assistance and $6 million in drone technology to support Ecuador’s fight against organized crime. Rubio met with Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, a close ally of the U.S. administration, in the capital, Quito. Noboa has made frequent trips to Washington, D.C., and Mar-a-Lago, including a meeting with President Trump. For now, the U.S. is signaling a tougher regional approach despite questions about the legality of the strike against the alleged Venezuelan drug boat.