US Military Preparing to Move Reaper Drones to South America Ahead of Planned Anti Drug Operations

The United States military is preparing to reposition MQ 9 Reaper drones from Africa to the area overseen by U.S. Southern Command as Washington expands military cooperation with South American countries and prepares for possible operations against drug trafficking and terrorist groups.

Six people familiar with the planning said the transfer is part of a broader movement of U.S. military equipment toward the Western Hemisphere. The exact number of aircraft involved remains uncertain, although one source said most of the Reaper drones currently assigned to U.S. Africa Command could be transferred.

The MQ 9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft used primarily for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance. It can also be equipped to conduct precision strikes, making the planned redeployment significant for future U.S. operations in the region.

The potential transfer comes as the administration of President Donald Trump has publicly discussed expanding military activity against drug trafficking organizations beyond maritime operations and into cooperation with partner governments on land.

Ecuador is among the countries that could be involved in future operations. The South American nation began conducting military operations with U.S. support earlier this year against organizations designated by Washington as terrorist groups.

The United States has already increased its military presence in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. During the previous year, Washington deployed Reaper drones, F 35 fighter aircraft and at least one AC 130 gunship as part of operations targeting vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.

The planned movement of drones toward South America reflects a broader shift in U.S. military priorities toward the Western Hemisphere.

At the same time, officials are considering whether some Reapers could instead be moved to the Middle East. The U.S. military has lost a number of assets during its ongoing conflict with Iran, including MQ 9 aircraft.

The potential reduction of Reaper resources in Africa has raised concerns because U.S. forces continue to monitor and conduct operations against militant organizations on the continent.

American military officials have repeatedly warned that groups including ISIS and al Shabaab remain active and capable of exploiting reduced international military involvement. U.S. forces have continued conducting strikes and joint operations with regional partners despite a smaller American footprint.

People familiar with the planning said counterterrorism operations in Africa are expected to continue. However, some have raised concerns that moving surveillance and strike aircraft away from Africa could make those missions more difficult.

The redeployment also reflects the Pentagon’s broader strategic priorities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth identified protection of the United States and the Western Hemisphere as the department’s highest priority in the National Defense Strategy released in January.

With the United States also focused on security challenges involving China, the Middle East and Europe, Africa has remained lower on the Pentagon’s list of military priorities.

The Pentagon has not provided a public comment on the reported drone transfer.

Meanwhile, Washington has been strengthening military partnerships with several Latin American countries as part of its campaign against organized crime and drug trafficking.

During a regional security meeting in Panama in August, Hegseth highlighted cooperation with Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and Colombia. He said Colombia had requested joint U.S. military involvement in operations against groups described by Washington as narco terrorist organizations.

Relations between Washington and Bogotá have also received renewed attention. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said the United States wanted to establish a new period of close cooperation with Colombia.

Colombia has separately reached an agreement with the United States involving three MQ 9A Reaper drones for monitoring drug trafficking routes and potentially supporting precision operations.

Panama has also received new U.S. security assistance. The U.S. Embassy in Panama announced the delivery of more than $6 million worth of long range drone systems designed to help monitor remote borders, protect maritime routes and combat drug trafficking and human smuggling. Those systems are different from the MQ 9 Reaper.

The broader U.S. campaign against suspected drug trafficking vessels has already involved military strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. According to U.S. reporting, more than 230 people have been killed in those operations.

The effectiveness of the campaign remains a subject of debate among law enforcement officials and security experts. Some have questioned whether military strikes have produced a lasting reduction in regional drug trafficking, while others have suggested that criminal organizations may simply be changing routes and methods.

In recent weeks, U.S. forces have also changed tactics in some operations. Rather than immediately destroying suspected trafficking boats, American forces have intercepted several vessels, removed their crews and transferred them to partner countries before sinking the boats.

Rubio has said coordination with local governments is an important reason for the change, noting that military operations conducted inside territorial waters must take into account the laws and procedures of the countries involved.

Despite the shift, the United States has continued to conduct strikes against suspected trafficking vessels. The U.S. military said an operation in the Caribbean on September 9 killed three crew members.

The planned movement of MQ 9 Reaper drones therefore comes as Washington expands its security partnerships across Latin America while balancing competing military demands in Africa and the Middle East.

The precise scope, timing and location of the redeployment remain unclear, and the Pentagon has not publicly confirmed the reported transfer. The move nevertheless signals a growing emphasis on counter narcotics and counterterrorism operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Courtesy: CNN