Rubio Designates Ecuador’s “Los Tiguerones” as Terrorist Organization

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a regional diplomatic tour in Lima on Thursday, marking Peru as his final stop after visits to Colombia and Ecuador. The trip forms part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to deepen ties with a newly emerging bloc of conservative governments across Latin America and intensify joint efforts against transnational drug trafficking organizations.

Peru joins U.S.-led “Shield of the Americas” alliance

Peru formally joined the “Shield of the Americas” — a Washington-led security initiative targeting narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere — just prior to Rubio’s arrival in Lima. The alliance aims to strengthen intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and law enforcement capacity among participating nations. Peru, one of the world’s largest cocaine producers, has experienced a sharp deterioration in public security over recent years.

Rising violence and intelligence cooperation

The country, home to 34 million people, has recorded a marked increase in homicide rates since 2018. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori stated that joining the “Shield of the Americas” enabled Lima to receive security-related intelligence more rapidly and implement “more decisive measures.” At a joint press conference with Rubio, she credited U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intelligence for the recent arrest of a Peruvian gang member in Bolivia.

Designation of “Los Tiguerones” as terrorist entity

In Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday, Rubio announced that the United States would formally designate “Los Tiguerones” — one of Ecuador’s most powerful criminal groups — as a foreign terrorist organization. That designation will cut off the group’s access to the U.S. financial system and impose sanctions on its members and associates. Rubio told reporters: “We are not talking about ordinary mafia. We are talking about terrorists.” He added: “If you do nothing against these groups, they will consume these countries entirely.”

Expanded counter-narcotics designations

The U.S. government also issued parallel designations targeting additional Ecuadorian gangs, Venezuela’s “Tren de Aragua,” and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. Rubio emphasized that Latin America constitutes a “genuine priority” for the Trump administration, stating: “Our engagement in the region is not charity. It is essential to our security, prosperity, and well-being in the United States.”

Geopolitical context and Chinese diplomatic response

Rubio’s regional tour aligns with the Trump administration’s efforts to counter growing influence by China, Russia, and Iran in Latin America. Ahead of his arrival in Lima, the Chinese embassy rejected any suggestion that the region serves as a “backyard” for external powers and affirmed Beijing’s commitment to cooperative relations with Latin American states.