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September 18, 2026
US Military Transfers Drones to South America for Counternarcotics Operations
- MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa Command are being moved to Southern Command, with most expected to be reassigned to South America.
- The transfer supports anticipated counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations, particularly in Ecuador, as part of a broader strategy to assert U.S. dominance in the region.
- This move reflects a strategic shift in US military priorities towards the western hemisphere, coinciding with recent operations against drug trafficking networks.
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2 Sources
- Exclusive: US military moving drones to South America ahead of anticipated counternarcotics operationsSep 18, 2026 at 9:00 AM · CNN
- Trump is planning to send drones to a new part of the world as his military campaigns expand: reportSep 18, 2026 at 8:19 PM · Independent