The US has deployed attack drones to Colombia and Ecuador, writes NYT

WASHINGTON, October 6 - RIA Novosti. The United States has deployed MQ-9 Reaper attack and reconnaissance drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador to fight Latin American cartels, the New York Times reports, citing two American officials.

The newspaper recalls that the authorities of these countries began conducting joint operations with the United States against terrorist organizations in 2026.

“As the administration of US President Donald Trump intensifies its fight against Latin American cartels, the US military has deployed several MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador,” the publication says.

As the newspaper notes, the cost of one such drone can reach $50 million. The sources did not specify exactly how many vehicles were deployed. At the same time, the United States is experiencing a shortage of them after losses during the war with Iran, where about a quarter of the American MQ-9 Reaper fleet was destroyed.