Rubio says U.S. is designating 2 Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist groups

Rubio says U.S. is designating 2 Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist groups World Sep 4, 2025 7:52 PM EDT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The United States is designating two Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, marking the Trump administration’s latest step to target criminal cartels in Latin America.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement Thursday while in Ecuador as part of a trip to Latin America overshadowed by an American military strike against a similarly designated gang, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. That attack has raised concerns in the region about what may follow as President Donald Trump’s government pledges to step up military activity to combat drug trafficking and illegal migration.

“This time, we’re not just going to hunt for drug dealers in