Rubio says US will work with allies to stop drug-trafficking as three killed in latest boat strike

Marco Rubio outside the US embassy in Quito on Wednesday. Photograph: Dolores Ochoa/ReutersView image in fullscreenMarco Rubio outside the US embassy in Quito on Wednesday.

Photograph: Dolores Ochoa/ReutersMarco RubioRubio says US will work with allies to stop drug-trafficking as three killed in latest boat strikeRubio visits Ecuador and welcomes cooperation after campaign of unilateral strikes on alleged ‘narco-terrorists’.

Preferir o Guardian no GoogleUS secretário de Estado Marco Rubio deu nova clareza sobre a abordagem para combater o tráfico de drogas nas águas da América Latina, dizendo que a administração Trump estava focada em trabalhar com países aliados e alinhar-se às suas leis, mas insistindo que o exército “ainda explodirá navios se necessário”.

The public acknowledgment of a shift in US strategy comes a year after Washington began a campaign of unilateral deadly strikes against those it calls “narco-terrorists” operating boats in international waters.

Late Wednesday, US Southern Command announced the latest such strike in the Caribbean Sea, saying it killed three people. That brought the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the US military to at least 230 in 69 strikes.

Still, the Trump administration is focused on building agreements for joint operations with allied countries in the region, including Colombia and Ecuador, that comply with their laws in their waters.

He said the decision is “a strike-by-strike or operation-by-operation determination” that depends on the threat and location of the boat.

As recentes interdições dos EUA nas águas da América Latina diferem das primeiras ações da administração Trump sobre barcos supostamente envolvidos no tráfico de drogas que começaram em setembro de 2025.

People onboard floating refueling stations said to be supporting drug trafficking have been removed and transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Then the US military blows up the vessels.

A mudança ocorre depois de uma série de ataques em embarcações ao longo do ano contra pessoas que a administração Trump acusou de serem “narco-terroristas” sem apresentar provas.

Rubio’s comments came during a three-nation tour of South America aimed at boosting security cooperation with conservative leaders who have cozied up to Donald Trump.