Ecuador legislature backs reform allowing foreign military bases

Reuters

2 days ago

QUITO, June 3 (Reuters) - Ecuador's national assembly legislature on Tuesday backed a constitutional reform that would allow the installation of foreign military bases in the South American country, part of plans by President Daniel Noboa to increase cooperation to fight drug trafficking.
The proposal was supported by 82 lawmakers while 60 voted against and six abstained. It must now be put to voters in a referendum on a date set by the electoral authorities.
Noboa, who began a full term in late May, has said international cooperation is required to combat drug trafficking groups operating across jurisdictions.
Lawmakers from his party have said that since a previous U.S. base was closed, Ecuador has become a top hub for narcotics trafficking.
But the opposition says foreign military presence alone will not solve the country's security problems and that the government needs a clear plan to combat crime.
The coastal city of Manta hosted the U.S. military base for a decade until 2009. Former leftist president Rafael Correa decided not to renew the base's permissions and pushed a constitutional reform to bar foreign military bases in Ecuador.
Ecuadorean officials have told allies of U.S. President Donald Trump that they are interested in hosting a U.S. base, sources told Reuters in March.
Noboa and Trump had an informal meeting soon after in Florida. Neither has provided many details of what they discussed.
National assembly president Niels Olsen is a close Noboa ally.