U.S. destroys another alleged drug boat as Rubio defends deadly strikes, says cartels are "like a cancer"

Key Points:

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended recent controversial U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in Latin America, emphasizing the threat posed by cartels to regional stability and praising emerging conservative leaders collaborating with Washington.
• The U.S. military confirmed a lethal strike on a narco-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, part of ongoing operations that have killed over 200 people since President Trump’s return to power, despite criticism from rights groups and experts about the campaign's effectiveness and legality.
• Rubio announced the U.S. designation of Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as a terrorist organization, following similar moves against other gangs like Los Choneros and Los Lobos, amid escalating gang violence and drug trafficking in Ecuador.
• Joint U.S.-Ecuador operations have recently shifted tactics, including removing crews from vessels before sinking them, with decisions made case-by-case based on threat levels, location, and local laws.
• Rubio's regional tour includes stops in Colombia and Peru to strengthen right-wing alliances and U.S. influence, while criticizing Mexico’s efforts against cartels as insufficient and warning about ungoverned territories controlled by criminal groups.