News brief
The forces aim to target 鈥渄esignated terrorist organizations.鈥� Some 70% of the world鈥檚 cocaine flows through Ecuadorean ports, according to President Daniel Noboa. Halting drug trafficking in the region has been a top priority during President Donald Trump鈥檚 second term. The U.S. has executed more than 40 lethal strikes on alleged trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since last September. U.S. Southern Command announced March 3 that the countries are together 鈥渢aking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere.鈥� Mr. Noboa鈥檚 support for reopening a U.S. military base, shuttered in 2009, was rejected by the Ecuadorean population in a referendum last year.