The United States has deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador. The aircraft were moved from bases in Africa, according to U.S. officials.
The Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft built for surveillance and precision strikes. It can stay airborne for more than 20 hours and carry Hellfire missiles.
The drones will support operations against drug cartels in both countries. Colombia and Ecuador have struggled with rising cocaine production and trafficking.
Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine producer. Ecuador has become a key transit point for drugs moving to the United States and Europe.
U.S. officials described the move as part of ongoing security cooperation. They did not say how many drones were sent or where they will be based.
The Reaper has been used in lethal strikes in Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan. Its presence in South America marks a shift in regional counter-narcotics strategy.
Both governments have not publicly confirmed the deployment. Details about the mission’s scope and rules of engagement remain unclear.
