Ecuadorian man released after US military action in the Caribbean
Man repatriated to Ecuador and released due to lack of evidence; US offensive draws international criticism
247 - An Ecuadorian man who survived a U.S. military offensive against a vessel in the Caribbean Sea has been released after being repatriated to his country. According to the... Folha de S. Paul, had been detained upon arriving in Quito last Saturday (18), but was released by the Attorney General's Office of Ecuador, which concluded that there were no criminal records against him.
The attack occurred on Thursday (16), resulting in the death of two crew members and leaving an Ecuadorian and a Colombian alive. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the survival of the two men and stated that both would be sent to their countries of origin for “detention and prosecution”. Despite the statement, the White House did not present evidence that those affected were involved in illicit activities.
Liberation in Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office reported that, after a medical evaluation and background check, there was no basis for the detention. "Since there was no information indicating the commission of a crime in Ecuador, he could not be detained because he also had no pending cases against him," the agency stated. A few hours later, the man was released.
President Daniel Noboa also commented on the case. In a post on the social network X, he stated that Ecuador "remains firm in the global fight against drug trafficking." Noboa, a right-wing politician who has adopted a hardline discourse, has been betting on militarization measures as a response to the escalation of drug-related violence in the country.
Criticisms of American military policy
US military operations in the Caribbean have already resulted in at least 27 deaths. Despite justifying the actions as part of the fight against drug trafficking, Washington has faced criticism from governments in the region, opposition groups, and international law experts, who question the legality of the offensives.
Since returning to power, Donald Trump has intensified his strategy of classifying Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations and pressuring governments in the region to strengthen the fight against trafficking. Furthermore, he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela with the aim of destabilizing the government of Nicolás Maduro, increasing the risk of military escalation and diplomatic tension in the region.
