US Green Berets Deploy to Ecuador's Esmeraldas Province Amid Shield of the Americas Anti-Cartel Push

Ecuadorian officials have confirmed direct involvement of US Army 7th Special Forces Group (Green Berets) in joint operations against narco-trafficking groups in Esmeraldas province, near the Colombian border. Provincial Governor Juan Jaramillo stated on August 20, 2026, that forces are "working together in the fight against narcoterrorism," with US personnel conducting intelligence and advisory roles alongside Ecuadorian marines and navy units in areas like San Lorenzo, Eloy Alfaro, and Río Verde.

Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo announced the arrival of two US warships and three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at the port of Manta to bolster maritime interdiction, tripling Ecuador's capacity in key trafficking zones. These activities fall under the Shield of the Americas (or Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, A3C), a US-led multinational effort launched by President Trump in March 2026 involving up to 19-20 nations for intelligence sharing and coordinated strikes on cartel networks.

The operations align with the broader Operation Southern Spear, which has included US airstrikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September 2025, though Ecuador represents a land-based expansion. Earlier joint actions in March 2026 targeted alleged narco sites, drawing scrutiny from human rights groups over reported civilian impacts, including arbitrary detentions and strikes on non-drug-related properties.

US Southern Command has described the partnership as enhancing regional capabilities against designated terrorist organizations tied to drug trafficking. Ecuador, under President Daniel Noboa, has issued decrees facilitating extended US military presence without visas. While officials emphasize advisory and enabling support rather than unilateral US raids, the deployment marks an escalation in direct US special operations footprint in the country.