The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it started joint operations with Ecuador on Tuesday to combat drug trafficking being carried out by "designated terrorist organizations."

"The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism," SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.

In a statement, Ecuador's Defense Ministry confirmed the operations were taking place, but did not share further "classified" details.

In September, the US designated the Ecuadorian drug gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos as "foreign terrorist organizations." 

Why are the US and Ecuador joining forces against drugs?

The operations with Ecuador come as the US continues to crack down on illicit drug production originating in Latin America, which has included strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, an ally of US President Donald Trump, said on Monday that Ecuador was "embarking on a new phase in the fight against narco-terrorism."

Noaba made the remarks after holding talks in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, with SOUTHCOM's leadership.

Since right-wing Noboa came to power in 2023, the US and Ecuador have taken steps to boost security cooperation.

Noboa's office said in a statement that the meeting with SOUTHCOM officials included plans for information sharing and operational coordination at airports and seaports.

Ecuador is seen as a transit country for cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru, which is smuggled through ports into the US and Europe. The drug trade has also unleashed a violent turf war in Ecuador between rival smuggling groups.