US Targeting of Fishing Boats Off Ecuador Sparks Controversy
Operations conducted by the US military against Ecuadorian fishing boats on suspicion of drug trafficking have raised human rights concerns, while the administrations of both countries continue to defend their joint strategy.
While the targeting of Ecuadorian fishing boats by US forces in international waters has heightened humanitarian concerns, the leadership of both countries is not stepping back from their joint strategy within the scope of the fight against drugs.
Visit to Quito and Award Ceremony
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was honored with the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the country's highest decoration, by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa at the Carondelet Palace in Quito for his contributions to peace in the region.
During these official contacts where Marco Rubio was hosted in Quito, it was reported that ten Ecuadorian fishermen whose boats were blown up by US forces were left stranded on the high seas in the Eastern Pacific.
Intervention Against the Boat Named Don Rufo
A day before Rubio's arrival in Ecuador, on September 8, a US patrol boat stopped and searched a fishing boat named Don Rufo in international waters.
The captain of the boat, Mero Calderón, stated that armed US personnel placed large bombs on the vessel, handcuffed and blindfolded the crew, and completely blew up their boat.
Rescue of the Crew and Allegations
Following the incident, six fishermen were handed over to local authorities, while the other ten crew members, who were found in a small boat in a more open area, were rescued by the Ecuadorian navy on September 10.
While the US Southern Command claimed that intelligence confirmed the boat was being used by gangs as a floating refueling station for drug-carrying speedboats, the fishermen denied these accusations.
Human Rights Concerns and Reactions
These joint operations, carried out with the open support of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, sparked harsh reactions and concerns from human rights organizations and a United Nations special rapporteur.
Local civil society organizations and families stated that the airstrikes in question could constitute extrajudicial executions or crimes against humanity, drawing attention to the destruction of the boats, arbitrary detentions, and missing fishermen.