Argentina Declares Ecuadorian Gangs Terrorist Groups; Noboa Thanks Milei for Support

Argentina has officially designated three Ecuadorian criminal organizations, Los Lobos, Los Choneros, and Chone Killers, as terrorist groups, bolstering Ecuador's fight against organized crime. The announcement came Thursday after a high-level meeting in Quito between Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei.

During their meeting at the Carondelet Palace, Noboa and Milei signed agreements covering security, trade, and extradition. Ecuador's presidency released a statement noting Noboa's gratitude to the Argentine government for classifying these groups as terrorists, a move that directly supports Ecuador's ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks. This designation aligns with similar actions taken by the United States, which previously labeled Los Choneros and Los Lobos as foreign terrorist organizations.

Ecuador has been grappling with unprecedented levels of violence, largely driven by turf wars between criminal gangs vying for control of drug trafficking routes. These groups are also involved in illegal mining, kidnapping, and extortion, contributing to a staggering homicide rate. President Noboa has implemented stringent measures, including curfews and military deployment, to combat this escalating crisis, with support from international allies.

The leaders also reviewed progress on existing agreements to combat organized crime and extradition treaties. The meeting underscored a strong alignment between the two governments on security and defense strategies, aiming to tackle drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. Additional agreements were reached concerning trade preferences for vehicles, air travel, and cooperation in nuclear energy research.