Residents of Guayaquil, Ecuador, celebrated the ‘No’ vote in a constitutional referendum that rejected the expansion of a U.S. military presence. The referendum was part of a larger effort to define the country’s foreign policy in the face of increasing U.S. military activity in Latin America.
The decision was seen as a significant victory for Ecuador’s government, which has long maintained a policy of distancing itself from U.S. military involvement. The vote comes at a time when tensions are rising across the region due to the U.S. military’s growing presence in nearby waters.
While the results reflect a strong rejection of the proposed expansion, the government remains committed to a policy of non-alignment and peaceful relations with all nations. The outcome is expected to have implications for regional security and the geopolitical landscape of Latin America.