Ecuador's foreign minister says American forces work alongside Ecuadorian military and police in joint operations targeting drug cartels in Latin America.
The board unanimously recommends approval. The virtual vote is set for Oct. 9; approvals in Colombia and Ecuador remain among the steps before closing.
On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, 14 countries are expected to follow Washington's lead by designating 25 criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
Ecuadorian authorities arrested alleged Los Lobos enforcer Hermes Ponce, known as 'La Muerte', in Naranjal, while separately detaining a suspected Los Choneros leader in El Oro.