US Military Plans MQ-9 Reaper Drone Shift to South America as Washington Expands Counter-Narcotics Operations
Move would transfer drones currently operating under U.S. Africa Command to Southern Command, amid growing military cooperation with Ecuador and other Latin American partners
The United States is preparing to reposition MQ-9 Reaper drones from operations in Africa to South America as Washington expands its military focus on counter-narcotics and counterterrorism efforts across the Western Hemisphere, according to six sources familiar with the planning cited by CNN.
The expected transfer is part of a broader movement of U.S. military capabilities toward Latin America and the Caribbean. The repositioning comes as the Trump administration intensifies cooperation with regional governments and publicly outlines plans for expanded operations against organizations it describes as “narco-terrorist” groups.
The exact number of MQ-9 Reapers expected to move from U.S. Africa Command to U.S. Southern Command remains unclear. One source familiar with the planning told CNN that the transfer could involve “most” of the drones currently assigned to the African command.
The MQ-9 Reaper is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, but it can also carry precision-guided weapons. Its potential deployment to South America would therefore give U.S. forces additional intelligence and strike capabilities in support of operations in the region.
Ecuador emerges as a key partner
Ecuador appears to be one of the countries at the center of the expanding U.S. military cooperation.
In August, U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan visited Quito for meetings with Ecuadorian defense officials. According to SOUTHCOM, the discussions focused on strengthening the bilateral defense partnership and joint efforts against transnational criminal organizations.
The United States established Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere in August as the operational arm of its regional strategy. The task force works with countries participating in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, including Ecuador.
U.S. and Ecuadorian forces have already conducted joint operations in the Eastern Pacific. On September 15, SOUTHCOM announced that American forces had intercepted a floating refueling vessel allegedly supporting illicit drug trafficking and linked by U.S. intelligence to the Los Choneros organization. The vessel was subsequently sunk after the operation.
Similar operations were announced in late August and early September, demonstrating that U.S.-Ecuadorian military cooperation is already operational rather than limited to planning or diplomatic discussions.
From maritime operations to potential land missions
The possible deployment of additional Reaper drones comes after a year of increased U.S. military activity around the Caribbean.
In 2025, the United States moved MQ-9 drones, F-35 fighter aircraft and at least one AC-130 gunship into the Caribbean as part of operations targeting vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
The new repositioning would represent a broader geographic emphasis. While maritime interdiction has remained an important component of the campaign, administration officials have increasingly discussed cooperation with governments in South and Central America for operations on land.
During a conference in Panama in August, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted partnerships with Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and Colombia, describing their cooperation with the United States as part of efforts against what Washington calls “narco-terrorism.”
Hegseth also said Colombia had requested U.S. participation in joint military operations against terrorist networks.
The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition formally committed participating countries to cooperate against “narco-terrorism and other shared threats to the Western Hemisphere” in a joint security declaration signed in March. Ecuador was among the governments that signed the document.
Pressure on U.S. military resources
The transfer also comes as the Pentagon faces competing military demands in other parts of the world.
One source cited by CNN said discussions were still underway over whether some MQ-9s could instead be redirected to the Middle East. The U.S. military has reportedly lost a significant number of Reaper drones during its conflict with Iran.
CNN previously reported that U.S. officials said approximately 25% of the American MQ-9 fleet had been lost during the war, highlighting the growing pressure on a platform that has become an important intelligence and surveillance asset.
Moving drones away from Africa could also create challenges for U.S. counterterrorism missions on that continent. American military commanders have continued to warn about the presence of groups such as ISIS affiliates and al-Shabaab, while U.S. forces have maintained airstrikes and joint operations against militant organizations.
The repositioning therefore reflects a broader prioritization of U.S. military resources rather than an indication that counterterrorism operations in Africa are ending.
Washington's changing regional strategy
The shift is consistent with the Trump administration's broader emphasis on the Western Hemisphere as a central national-security priority.
The creation of Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere, the expansion of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition and the increasing number of joint operations with Latin American governments all point toward a more active U.S. military role in regional security.
For countries such as Ecuador, the partnership offers additional military intelligence and operational capabilities as governments confront powerful criminal organizations. At the same time, the prospect of expanded U.S. military involvement raises questions about the scope, legal framework and limits of future operations.
The potential arrival of MQ-9 Reapers would add another layer to that evolving strategy, combining persistent aerial surveillance with the ability to conduct precision strikes.
For now, the Pentagon has not publicly confirmed the planned transfer of MQ-9 aircraft from Africa to South America. But the increasingly frequent U.S. military operations alongside regional partners indicate that Washington's counter-narcotics campaign in the Western Hemisphere is already moving beyond rhetoric and into a sustained operational phase.
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