US Special Forces Are Now Operating in Ecuador — Here's What That Means for Expats

What's Happening

Since March 3, 2026, US and Ecuadorian military forces have been conducting joint operations against drug trafficking organizations on Ecuadorian soil. This is the first time US troops have participated in ground-level anti-narcotics operations inside Ecuador.

The operation falls under "Operation Southern Spear," announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in November 2025 and executed by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

The Operations So Far

What's confirmed:

• US Special Forces are providing advisory support, intelligence, and planning while Ecuadorian special operations units execute the raids
• Initial operations dismantled a drug trafficking network linked to Los Lobos in Guayas, El Oro, and Loja provinces
• Cocaine and over $800,000 in cash were seized in early operations
• General Francis Donovan of SOUTHCOM visited President Noboa in Quito on March 2, the day before operations began

The border dimension:

• Ecuador has been conducting airstrikes against the Comandos de la Frontera armed group along the Colombian border
• These strikes are part of "Operation Total Extermination" — a US-backed offensive along the 600km Ecuador-Colombia border
• Today (March 20), France24 reports that these airstrikes are leaving border communities in fear, with civilians caught between military operations and armed groups
• Colombia's President Petro has accused Ecuador of bombing across the border — a claim Ecuador denies

The Political Context

This is happening despite Ecuadorian voters rejecting foreign military bases in the November 2025 referendum (60.3% voted no). The government argues that joint operations are different from permanent bases — a distinction that critics dispute.

The White House characterized the operations as "decisive action to confront narco-terrorists." SOUTHCOM frames them as supporting Ecuador's own military — not replacing it.

What This Means for Expats

The operations are NOT happening in expat areas. They're concentrated in:

• Coastal provinces (Guayas, El Oro)
• The northern border region with Colombia
• Rural areas controlled by trafficking organizations

Practical implications:

• Daily life in Quito, Cuenca, Vilcabamba, or coastal expat towns is unaffected by the military operations
• Travel to the northern border (Esmeraldas, Carchi, Sucumbíos) should be avoided unless necessary
• The US Embassy issued a security alert on March 5 — review it if you haven't already
• Your family back home will see dramatic headlines. Having context helps: the operations are targeted, geographically limited, and aimed at reducing the very security threats that concern everyone

The bigger question is whether US military involvement escalates or remains limited. So far, the US role is advisory and intelligence-focused — not combat. But the situation is fluid, especially with the Colombia tensions.

We'll continue tracking this closely.

Sources: Al Jazeera, France24, US Southern Command, Washington Post