The Shadow War in Latin America: How the US is Rethinking its Approach to Narcotics Trafficking The recent designation of Ecuador's Los Tiguerones gang as a terrorist organization by the United States marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's strategy against narcotics trafficking.
On the surface, this move appears to be a straightforward condemnation of a particularly brutal and well armed gang responsible for attacks on civilians, law enforcement officers, and journalists.
However, scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that this decision is part of a broader effort by the US to reorient its approach to the complex web of crime and corruption in Latin America.