QUITO, ECUADOR – The United States has officially designated two of Ecuador's most notorious criminal gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as foreign terrorist organizations, marking a significant escalation in bilateral security cooperation. The announcement was made on september 4, 2025, by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a high-level visit to Quito.

The designation is intended to cripple the gangs' financial networks by allowing the U.S. to freeze their assets, while also enhancing intelligence sharing and joint counterterrorism operations. In a further show of support, Secretary Rubio announced that the United States would provide the Ecuadorian Navy with $6 million for drones and an additional $13 million for general security efforts to combat the gangs.

This move comes as the leader of Los Choneros, Jose Adolfo "Fito" Macias Villamar, is in U.S. custody facing federal drug and gun charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Secretary Rubio's visit and the new security measures are part of the Trump administration's broader strategy for Latin America, which focuses on confronting drug cartels, curbing illegal immigration, and countering Chinese influence in the region. During his trip, Rubio met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa to discuss these regional challenges and reinforce the new, more aggressive U.S. stance against narco-crime.

While security has become the focal point of recent developments, the economic relationship between the two nations remains vital. The United States is Ecuador's principal trading partner, with total goods trade reaching an estimated $16.1 billion in 2024. According to the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. imports from Ecuador totaled $8.5 billion against $7.5 billion in exports, creating a U.S. goods trade deficit of $992.7 million. Major Ecuadorian exports include crude oil and shrimp, many of which enter the U.S. duty-free under the Generalized System of Preferences.

However, Ecuador has long sought a full free trade agreement with the United States, which would put it on equal footing with some of its neighbors. The absence of such an agreement, coupled with a 10% tariff imposed on certain Ecuadorian goods by the previous Trump administration, has left securing a comprehensive trade deal high on Ecuador's agenda.

The recent security pact builds on a foundation of long-term diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties. In 2022, the U.S. Congress introduced the United States-Ecuador Partnership Act to bolster cooperation on democratic governance, economic growth, and combating crime. More recently, the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group was reestablished in Ecuador's National Assembly to deepen legislative collaboration.

The designation of the gangs and the increased U.S. support signal a new chapter in a partnership that dates back to the 19th century, one now heavily defined by a shared commitment to confronting transnational criminal organizations.