U.S. troops may soon return to Ecuador after a 16-year absence, pending a critical constitutional assembly vote this weekend. The vote could pave the way for foreign military operations, including a potential U.S. base at the port city of Manta.
Discussions on security cooperation between the Trump administration and Ecuador have intensified in recent months. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently accompanied Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa to Manta and another military installation to explore these security options. While the Pentagon has yet to confirm plans to redeploy troops, the outcome of the referendum could significantly alter U.S. military engagement in the region.
Reinstating a base in Manta is part of a broader U.S. military strategy to reactivate facilities throughout Latin America, moving away from a focus on the Middle East. This shift is aimed at enhancing efforts against drug trafficking. Recent U.S. operations have included 20 strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific linked to drug trafficking activities, resulting in at least 79 casualties. While the revived infrastructure could enhance counter-drug operations, it can also serve a variety of military purposes.
In addition to the potential Manta base, U.S. troops and contractors have revitalized facilities both within and outside U.S. territory. At Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, the site has been energized with renovations, including updates to its airstrip and the introduction of F-35B fighter jets. In Panama, U.S. forces are utilizing the former Fort Sherman for jungle warfare training, marking a reintegration of U.S. military capabilities in the region after years of absence.
The U.S. base at Manta has historical significance; it was operational from 1999 until 2009 when Ecuador prohibited foreign military presence. Its potential reopening signifies a renewed U.S. presence on the Pacific side of Latin America, enhancing operational breadth in the region in light of recent military actions.
In conjunction with these developments, the Pentagon is reinforcing its military posture with the establishment of a new task force in the Caribbean, highlighting a concerted effort to bolster counter-narcotics strategies. As tensions escalate, particularly with the Venezuelan government’s military mobilization in response to U.S. activities, the return to bases like Manta could mark a significant shift in regional dynamics and military readiness.
These moves underline a strategic pivot by the U.S. toward strengthening its military infrastructure and relations within Latin America, aiming for greater operational efficiency against emerging threats and enhancing regional security. The outcome of Ecuador’s referendum will be a pivotal factor in shaping U.S. military presence in the hemisphere moving forward.