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US, Colombia and Ecuador plan border drug operations
Military leaders from the three countries prepared coordinated action against drug-trafficking groups near the Colombia-Ecuador border.
What happened
US Southern Command chief Francis L. Donovan met Colombian and Ecuadorian defence and military leaders in San Lorenzo, Ecuador, near the Colombian border. The three countries prepared coordinated strategies and operations against criminal groups involved in drug trafficking. Colombia’s government also sought closer security cooperation with Washington.
Numbers
- 3 countriesplanning coordinated border anti-drug operations
- 2 defence ministersjoined the San Lorenzo meeting
Questions
- Which forces joined the talks?
- Alongside Donovan and the two defence ministers, Colombia’s armed-forces commander and the US hemispheric task-force commander joined the meeting.
- Why is the border a focus?
- Donovan described it as a geographic chokepoint long exploited by violent cartels, while officials cited criminal groups operating in border areas.
- What would the operations target?
- The stated strategy is to pursue cartel leaders, disrupt their logistics and prevent them from finding safe refuge in the region.
- Why did Ecuador back coordination?
- Ecuador’s defence minister cited concern that armed groups linked to drug trafficking could expand into Ecuadorian territory from the border area.
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The catch
Coverage names no start date, operational scope, troop numbers or agreed rules for the planned operations.