Ecuador Voters Reject Return of U.S. Military Bases in Setback for President Noboa

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Ecuadorian voters have decisively rejected a proposal to allow the return of U.S. military bases to the country, delivering a major political setback to President Daniel Noboa and complicating future defense cooperation with Washington. The referendum, held on Sunday, drew wide participation and reaffirmed Ecuador’s long-standing constitutional ban on foreign military installations.

With approximately 75 percent of ballots counted, preliminary results from the National Electoral Council indicated that nearly 60 percent of voters opposed lifting the ban. The outcome reflects deep-rooted public resistance to foreign military presence in the country, even amid heightened security concerns and closer ties between the Noboa administration and the United States.

The proposed change would have enabled the return of American military personnel to an airbase in Manta, a coastal city on the Pacific. The base previously served as a key regional hub for U.S. counter-narcotics operations until Ecuador terminated the agreement in 2009 under then-President Rafael Correa, citing sovereignty concerns.

President Noboa, seen as a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, had backed the measure as part of broader efforts to address Ecuador’s growing challenges with organized crime, drug trafficking, and border security. His administration argued that enhanced cooperation with U.S. defense agencies could bring technical expertise, intelligence capabilities, and strategic support to bolster Ecuador’s domestic security.

Earlier this month, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited military installations in both Manta and Salinas alongside President Noboa. The high-profile visit was seen as a signal of Washington’s willingness to resume a more active security role in the region, particularly amid concerns about increased drug trafficking routes through South America and into the United States.

However, critics of the referendum argued that allowing a foreign military presence would infringe on national sovereignty and potentially drag Ecuador into geopolitical rivalries it seeks to avoid. Opposition parties, civil society organizations, and segments of the public campaigned against the initiative, calling it a step backward that could reignite domestic tensions and public mistrust.

“The Ecuadorian people have spoken clearly in favor of national autonomy,” said a spokesperson for the Citizen Sovereignty Alliance, one of the grassroots groups that opposed the referendum. “We can fight crime without compromising our independence or returning to policies of external dependency.”

Analysts believe the referendum result may also signal broader concerns over foreign influence in Ecuadorian policymaking. While Noboa has enjoyed relatively stable approval ratings since taking office, the defeat may embolden political opposition as the country approaches the next electoral cycle.

From a foreign policy perspective, the vote complicates U.S. efforts to re-establish a permanent military or intelligence footprint in the Andean region. The Manta base, before its closure, was instrumental in regional surveillance operations, targeting transnational drug networks operating across Colombia, Peru, and the wider Pacific corridor.

For now, cooperation between the two countries is likely to continue through other channels, including intelligence sharing, equipment support, and joint training exercises under existing bilateral agreements. However, the absence of a formal base complicates operational logistics and restricts long-term strategic planning.

The Biden and Trump camps in Washington may view the result differently, but the geopolitical reality remains: Ecuador has chosen, once again, to maintain its constitutional bar on foreign military installations.