Ecuadorian Officials Confirm US Green Berets Operating in Esmeraldas as Warships Patrol from Manta

Esmeraldas provincial governor Juan Jaramillo publicly confirmed on August 19–20, 2026 that US Army 7th Special Forces Group ('Green Berets') personnel are conducting joint operations with Ecuadorian forces against narco-trafficking networks in Esmeraldas province, saying 'We are with the 7th (Special Forces) Group of the US Army. We are working together in the fight against narcoterrorism.' Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo separately confirmed two US warships — the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gridley — are patrolling out of the port city of Manta with interceptor boats. President Noboa has pushed to reopen the US military base at Manta, closed since 2009, marking the deepest US military penetration of Ecuador since the Cold War.