Ecuador's Noboa considering hosting foreign military bases

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Espanol
Today 13:35
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Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa is considering allowing foreign military bases, potentially on Baltra Island in the Galápagos, pending a November referendum.

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The Mann beach lighthouse stands next to Naufragio Bay in San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, May 2, 2020. (AP)

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has confirmed that his administration is assessing potential sites for foreign military bases, a decision that will depend on the results of a national referendum scheduled for November 16, in which citizens will decide whether to approve the proposal.

In an interview with CNN on Thursday night, Noboa revealed that Baltra Island in the Galápagos archipelago, along with areas in the provinces of Santa Elena and Manabí, are under consideration by the government.

He justified the potential selection of Baltra by citing its strategic location, noting that the United States used the island as a military base during World War II. The island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, already has airport infrastructure that could facilitate joint operations. However, social and environmental groups have warned that such a move could endanger national sovereignty and the fragile Galápagos ecosystem

Public figures and environmentalists have expressed strong opposition. Former Energy Minister Alberto Acosta posted on X: "NO, NO, NO, NO. Period. Reasons for not allowing Yankee bases, I share a book for reflection on everything that would be at risk with a foreign military base in the Galápagos, which implies a clear loss of sovereignty."

NO, NO, NO, NO. Y PUNTO

RAZONES PARA NO PERMITIR BASE YANQUIS
Comparto un LIBRO para la reflexión por todo lo que estaría en riesgo con una base militar extranjera en las Islas Galápagos, que implica una clara pérdida de soberanía. Las estrategias militares sacrificarían las de… pic.twitter.com/UrS5ppvDd5
— Alberto Acosta (@AlbertoAcostaE) October 19, 2025

The proposal also comes amid heightened regional tensions, as the Trump administration continues to threaten Venezuela and expand US military operations across Latin America. Analysts argue that the "drug trafficking" excuse serves as a pretext for regime-change objectives, control over oil-rich territories, and a bid to counter China's growing influence in the region.

In this context, Ecuador's potential hosting of US bases would further consolidate Washington's strategic reach along the Pacific and Caribbean corridors, complementing its recent deployments in the Caribbean, Colombia, and the Southern Command region.

Noboa added that Santa Elena and Manabí are also potential candidates for hosting foreign military facilities. He recalled that Manta, in Manabí, was home to the Eloy Alfaro Air Base, which the US military operated until 2009, when then-President Rafael Correa terminated the agreement over sovereignty concerns.

Arguing that international cooperation is crucial to combating "drug trafficking" and transnational organized crime, Noboa stated that these challenges "exceed the capacity of a single state."

"We need the support of allies to confront mafias that operate globally," he told CNN.

Referendum and structural reforms

The November 16 referendum will also include questions about establishing a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution and further open Ecuador's economy to foreign investment.

Noboa expressed confidence that voters will support the initiative but pledged to respect the will of the electorate.

He also addressed security issues, asserting a direct link between drug trafficking and illegal mining, and referenced the month-long Indigenous strike triggered by the removal of the diesel subsidy, which led to road blockades and allegations of excessive force by state authorities.