Ecuador Voters Reject Return of US Military Bases
Ecuadorians have voted against bringing back US military bases to their country in a national referendum held on Sunday. With over 60% of voters opposing President Daniel Noboa’s initiative to allow foreign troops to operate in Ecuador, the decision reflects the majority’s stance on foreign military presence. Noboa, who accepted the results, stated that the Ecuadorian people have spoken and that the government respects their decision.
The referendum took place amid a broader context of US military engagement in the Caribbean, where former President Trump had ordered strikes on alleged cartel vessels and criticized leftist leaders in Venezuela and Colombia. Noboa had previously offered US President Donald Trump the opportunity to station troops in the country, proposing locations such as Manta, Salinas, and the Galapagos Archipelago. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had met with Noboa in July during her visit to Ecuador’s military sites.
While the United States has been increasing its military presence in the Caribbean, the Ecuadorian vote signals a resistance to foreign military influence and a preference for maintaining national sovereignty. The rejection of the US bases proposal highlights the country’s desire to control its own defense and foreign policy, rather than aligning with US military strategies in the region.
The decision also has implications for regional relations. Trump’s focus on strengthening ties with conservative leaders in the region, such as Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who proposed housing deported migrants in Salvadoran prisons, contrasts with Ecuador’s decision to maintain independence. The outcome of this referendum underscores Ecuador’s firm stance on its national interests and its willingness to resist external military influence, even as the United States continues to assert its presence in the Americas.