Ecuador and Colombia prepare joint operations against drug traffickers

Ecuador and Colombia are poised to launch coordinated operations against drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations from the very first day of Colombia's new administration. Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, announced on July 21, 2026, that both nations will implement direct military actions against organized crime.

This binational cooperation is set to commence immediately after the inauguration of Colombia's president-elect on August 7, 2026. Minister Reimberg stated that discussions between Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's team and the incoming Colombian government have solidified this bilateral understanding. He emphasized the new Colombian administration's readiness to initiate security strategies from day one, with both nations' security forces prepared for the offensive.

Reimberg sharply criticized the previous Colombian government's handling of security over the past four years, alleging it opened the door to drug trafficking, terrorism, and arms supply to dissident groups in the border region. He asserted that Ecuador will not permit a return to such vulnerable conditions. Coordinated attacks by the armed forces of both countries are planned to neutralize armed structures associated with former FARC dissidents operating along the border.

The announcement follows a period of bilateral trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia earlier in 2026, stemming from Ecuador's imposition of tariffs. Ecuador had sought to pressure Colombia to increase border controls against the flow of cocaine. While the trade dispute was resolved with mediation from the Andean Community, the final agreement was attributed to commitments made by the Colombian president-elect. Noboa had previously highlighted the new Colombian administration's confirmed willingness to engage in a genuine, joint fight against narcoterrorism in the region.