Latest news with #DanielNoboa
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
As Ecuador battles gangs, lawmakers approve return of foreign military bases
Ecuador's parliament on Tuesday gave the green light for the establishment of foreign military bases in the country as it seeks international assistance in its battle against violent drug gangs. Foreign bases were outlawed in Ecuador in 2009, but President Daniel Noboa has vowed to bring them back as he pursues a crackdown on cartels blamed for turning what was once one of the region's most peaceful countries into one of its most violent. Noboa has asked US President Donald Trump for military backing and in February said he would invite "special forces" from unnamed allied countries to help. He has announced an alliance with US mercenary Erik Prince, founder of security contractor Blackwater, and said last month that Israel wants to help Ecuador with intelligence. Noboa, 37, was sworn in for a second term in May after claiming a runaway reelection victory with promises to take an "iron fist" to gangsters. Once-peaceful Ecuador averaged a killing every hour at the start of the year as cartels battled for control over cocaine routes that pass through the nation's ports. There are an estimated 40,000 gang members in Ecuador, the president has said, and about 20 gangs with links to international cartels. Noboa last year declared Ecuador to be in an internal armed conflict, empowering him to deploy the armed forces in the streets and prisons. But despite his tough-on-crime policies, Ecuador has the highest murder rate in Latin America. - 'Strategic cooperation ' - The United States had a military base in the South American country, at the fishing port of Manta, until 2009 when a constitutional prohibition entered into effect that Noboa wants overturned. With 82 votes out of 151 members, Ecuador's unicameral National Assembly with its pro-government majority on Tuesday approved a constitutional reform to allow for such bases to be brought back. "This is a decisive contribution to security... and for the return of peace to Ecuadoran territory," the parliament stated on X. In a separate statement, it said the reform had "the aim of strengthening international cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime." The measure would allow for "the recovery of national security through strategic cooperation, intelligence sharing, and technology transfer, which will strengthen the operational capacities of the state," the congress added. The Constitutional Court must now review the text of the reform, which will then be submitted to a referendum. Parliamentary backers of socialist ex-leader Rafael Correa -- on whose watch foreign bases were outlawed -- voted against the measure. sp/nn/mlr/md
France 24
3 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
As Ecuador battles gangs, lawmakers approve return of foreign military bases
Foreign bases were outlawed in Ecuador in 2009, but President Daniel Noboa has vowed to bring them back as he pursues a crackdown on cartels blamed for turning what was once one of the region's most peaceful countries into one of its most violent. Noboa has asked US President Donald Trump for military backing and in February said he would invite "special forces" from unnamed allied countries to help. He has announced an alliance with US mercenary Erik Prince, founder of security contractor Blackwater, and said last month that Israel wants to help Ecuador with intelligence. Noboa, 37, was sworn in for a second term in May after claiming a runaway reelection victory with promises to take an "iron fist" to gangsters. Once-peaceful Ecuador averaged a killing every hour at the start of the year as cartels battled for control over cocaine routes that pass through the nation's ports. There are an estimated 40,000 gang members in Ecuador, the president has said, and about 20 gangs with links to international cartels. Noboa last year declared Ecuador to be in an internal armed conflict, empowering him to deploy the armed forces in the streets and prisons. But despite his tough-on-crime policies, Ecuador has the highest murder rate in Latin America. 'Strategic cooperation ' The United States had a military base in the South American country, at the fishing port of Manta, until 2009 when a constitutional prohibition entered into effect that Noboa wants overturned. With 82 votes out of 151 members, Ecuador's unicameral National Assembly with its pro-government majority on Tuesday approved a constitutional reform to allow for such bases to be brought back. "This is a decisive contribution to security... and for the return of peace to Ecuadoran territory," the parliament stated on X. In a separate statement, it said the reform had "the aim of strengthening international cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime." The measure would allow for "the recovery of national security through strategic cooperation, intelligence sharing, and technology transfer, which will strengthen the operational capacities of the state," the congress added. The Constitutional Court must now review the text of the reform, which will then be submitted to a referendum. Parliamentary backers of socialist ex-leader Rafael Correa -- on whose watch foreign bases were outlawed -- voted against the measure.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ecuador legislature backs reform allowing foreign military bases
By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (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 and must now be put to voters in a referendum on a date set by the electoral authorities.
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ecuador legislature backs reform allowing foreign military bases
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.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drug trafficking complicates Noboa's reform plans in Ecuador
May 27 (UPI) -- President Daniel Noboa began his second term in Ecuador facing a series of critical challenges that will shape the country's direction over the next four years. Ecuador is in the midst of a severe security crisis, with more than 8,000 violent deaths recorded in 2024 and a 58% rise in homicides during the first months of 2025, according to the Interior Ministry. The country has become a key route for international drug trafficking, fueling the surge in violence and insecurity. During his inauguration speech on Saturday, Noboa focused on public safety, economic recovery and calls for national unity. Drug trafficking drives 94% of crimes reported in Ecuador. Authorities have labeled more than a dozen gangs as terrorist organizations, many with links to international criminal organizations such as Mexico's Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, as well as the Albanian mafia. In response, the government has declared an "internal state of war," prompting backlash from human rights organizations. Drug traffickers have established "liberated zones" where police have no control, and gang leaders continue to operate from inside prisons. Corruption has spread across Ecuador's political and judicial systems. Noboa has vowed to regain control of the country's prisons, seize drug traffickers' assets and strengthen the equipment and intelligence capabilities of Ecuador's security forces to confront what he called "organized criminal groups operating inside and outside the country, with significant financing and weapons." In the recent general elections, Noboa's party secured a relative majority in the National Assembly, giving him a chance to push forward his legislative agenda. Still, his government will need to build alliances to advance structural reforms, particularly on issues like security and the economy. The opposition, led by allies of former President Rafael Correa, remains a powerful force and has raised doubts about the legitimacy of Noboa's government. The administration must obtain approval from Ecuador's National Court of Justice to move forward with its proposed reforms. "President Noboa has strong public support to take tough measures against crime. He has the votes in parliament to advance his proposals, but lawyers, opposition politicians and human rights groups argue that many, if not all, of them are unconstitutional," said Ana Belén Cordero, former secretary of anti-corruption public policy. Last year, Ecuador was hit by an energy crisis that caused blackouts lasting up to 14 hours a day in some parts of the country, disrupting homes, businesses and industry. Halted production resulted in over $2 billion in losses and led to the loss of 3,500 jobs. The ongoing drought has crippled the country's hydroelectric-dependent energy system. Cordero said Ecuador relies heavily on electricity imports from Colombia and Peru, with whom relations remain strained. She also noted that nine private-sector energy projects remain stalled. Ecuador's annual inflation rate stands at just 2.4%, and the unemployment rate is under 4%, but nearly half of the labor force works in the informal sector. Despite relatively stable macroeconomic indicators, the high level of violence continues to deter foreign investment, limiting the country's growth outlook.
