The United States describes the best Ecuador gangs as terrorists: NPR

Kito, Ecuador – The United States will appoint two of the most powerful Ecuador – Los Le Popus and Los Chuniros – as foreign terrorist organizations, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio announced a single day visit to the South American country on Thursday.

This step allows Washington to freeze the target assets and population and exchange intelligence with Ecuador of what Rubio described as the “potentially fatal” operations. He pledged security aid of $ 13.5 million and $ 6 million in drone technology to support anti -Ecuador against organized crime.

“These men do not usually come out of good mind,” Rubio said, speaking about the gangs, which he referred to as “evil animals.” The new classification “opens the opening” to exchange intelligence that Ecuador can use against them.

Rubio met with Ecuador President Daniel Nuboa, a close ally of the American administration, in the capital, Kito. Noboa made repeated trips to Washington, DC, and Mar Lago, including a meeting with President Trump. It was re -elected earlier this year, Nubua announced “war” of organized crime with the high violence in Ecuador.

It was initially praised on the charge of eliminating the travelers, and the efforts of NOBOA – including a security agreement with the American military contractor Erik Prince – recently stopped. according to Ecuadorian government dataNearly 70 % of cocaine in the world is now moving across the country, and is shipped from neighboring Colombia and Peru to the markets in the United States, Europe and Asia.

The increase in Cartel’s violence led to the feeding of immigration from Ecuador, as he sent more Ecuadorians to the American border. Noboa pressed stronger American and European involvement in the campaign campaign campaign and wants to hold a referendum to allow foreign military bases in Ecuador for the first time since 2009. Rubio said Washington will consider a base if called.

The Rubio Station in Kito comes after high -level meetings in Mexico the previous day, warning of more US military action against drug dealers. Earlier this week, the Trump administration struck the Venezuelan boat, which is allegedly carrying drugs, killing 11 people that the United States says are members of Trin de Aragoa, a Venezuelan gang that was also appointed as a terrorist organization earlier this year.

The Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosado Capello criticized the strike. “If they carried out the attack, 11 people were killed without trial. Could this be legal?” He said on State TV. “Even if they involve drugs, their own laws prevent this.”

But Rubio defended the strike, and told reporters in Mexico: “If you are on a boat full of cocaine or fentanel heading to the United States, you are an immediate threat. The president has the power to get rid of the imminent threats of the United States.”

During the trip, Mexico Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente confirmed his country’s cooperation with Washington, but stressed that he must respect sovereignty. He repeatedly referred to the principles of “self -determination, lack of ventilation and peaceful decision of the controversy” when he was asked about our pressure on Venezuela. Despite the differences, both sides described the talks as fruitful, with Mexican President Claudia Shinbom joined the discussions.

While the new terrorist appointments expand our options in Ecuador, they can complicate matters for civilians. Immigration lawyers say that this may help some seekers of resorting to proving that they are victims of terrorism, but others who have paid extortion money to gangs can be punished because of the “material support” of terrorist groups.

Currently, the United States refers to a strict regional approach despite questions about the legitimacy of a strike against the alleged Venezuelan drug boat. Rubio Noboa described as a “Ragheb” in the drug war and said that the Trump administration will not hesitate to continue the strikes against the groups seen as terrorism.