On 8 September, a U.S. patrol vessel intercepted and destroyed the Ecuadorian fishing boat Don Rufo in international waters off the coast of Ecuador, leaving ten fishers adrift in the eastern Pacific. The strike has sparked humanitarian concerns about the livelihoods of the crew.
The attack took place a day before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to be decorated in Quito by President Guillermo Lasso for “helping to promote peace in the region.” The ceremony was intended to highlight the U.S. role in regional stability, even as the incident unfolded.
Representatives for the affected fishers have said they are “losing their livelihoods” as a result of the U.S. action. The boat’s crew, who had been operating in the open ocean, were left without a vessel and in a precarious position.
In a separate statement, Rubio maintained that the United States remains willing to “blow up ships if need be,” underscoring a firm stance on maritime security and the enforcement of U.S. interests in international waters.
While the U.S. has not released a detailed justification for the strike, the incident highlights ongoing tensions over fishing rights and naval patrols in the eastern Pacific. Ecuador has not yet issued a formal response to the attack.
The event underscores the vulnerability of small fishing vessels to military operations and raises questions about the balance between national security and the protection of civilian livelihoods in international waters.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>