American Special Forces are now conducting joint military operations inside Ecuador, the first acknowledged U.S. ground mission against cartel networks on South American soil.
Quick Take
- U.S. Southern Command confirmed joint operations with Ecuador began March 3, 2026.
- Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group are guiding Ecuadorian troops in raids near the Colombian border.
- The mission targets groups Washington has labeled terrorist organizations.
- Ecuador’s security crisis, fueled by cocaine trafficking, pushed the government to invite direct U.S. military support.
- Officials have not released troop numbers or a timeline for the operation.
Joint Operations Confirmed by Both Militaries
U.S. Southern Command announced on March 3 that American and Ecuadorian forces launched joint operations against groups Washington has designated terrorist organizations. Ecuadorian officials confirmed that soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group are guiding local troops during raids near the border with Colombia. The announcement marked the first time the United States has acknowledged ground-based military action against cartel networks inside South America.
Reporting from the Rio Times called it the first acknowledged U.S. land operation against cartel infrastructure on South American soil. One mission, code-named Lanza Marina, targeted a coastal compound believed to serve as a staging site for a narco-terrorist group, according to CBS News. Neither government has released troop numbers or said how long the mission will last.
Why Ecuador Asked for Outside Help
Ecuador’s security crisis has grown sharply since January 2024, when armed gangs stormed a television station during a live broadcast and forced the government to declare a state of emergency. Cocaine trafficking through Ecuadorian ports has turned the country from one of Latin America’s safest nations into one of its most dangerous, pushing officials to invite direct American military support.
U.S. forces already had a footprint before the March operation began. A December 2025 mission with Ecuador’s 4th Army Division seized 1.4 tons of cocaine worth about 98 million dollars, according to a U.S. Southern Command post. That earlier success helped build the case for expanding cooperation into today’s joint campaign against cartel networks.
A Familiar Pattern With Deep Roots
Washington has sent Special Forces advisors to Latin America before. In 1981, 15 Green Beret advisors deployed to El Salvador to train that country’s army, and U.S. teams ran counter-narcotics exercises in Ecuador as far back as 1999. The current mission fits that same advisory tradition, though officials say today’s effort includes intelligence support and air mobility work, not just training.
The Wall Street Journal reported the operation reflects the Trump administration’s broader push against drug networks across Latin America, following similar campaigns elsewhere in the region. Southern Command has not said how many American personnel remain in Ecuador or how long the mission will continue. Both governments have confirmed the operation is underway, even as some operational details remain unreleased.
Sources:
taskandpurpose.com, bbc.com, southcom.mil, armyrecognition.com, cnn.com, cbsnews.com, wsj.com
