Ecuador's Noboa is considering hosting foreign military bases. October 28, 2025

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By AFP - Agence France Presse

Ecuador's Noboa is considering hosting foreign military bases

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa is considering allowing foreign military bases, potentially on Baltra Island in the Galápagos, pending a November referendum.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has confirmed that his administration is assessing potential sites for foreign military bases, a decision that will depend on the results of a national referendum scheduled for November 16, in which citizens will decide whether to approve the proposal.

In an interview with CNN on Thursday night, Noboa revealed that Baltra Island in the Galápagos archipelago, along with areas in the provinces of Santa Elena and Manabí, are under consideration by the government.

He justified the potential selection of Baltra by citing its strategic location, noting that the United States used the island as a military base during World War II. The island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, already has airport infrastructure that could facilitate joint operations. However, social and environmental groups have warned that such a move could endanger national sovereignty and the fragile Galápagos ecosystem

Public figures and environmentalists have expressed strong opposition. Former Energy Minister Alberto Acosta posted on X: "NO, NO, NO, NO. Period. Reasons for not allowing Yankee bases, I share a book for reflection on everything that would be at risk with a foreign military base in the Galápagos, which implies a clear loss of sovereignty."

The proposal also comes amid heightened regional tensions, as the Trump administration continues to threaten Venezuela and expand US military operations across Latin America. Analysts argue that the "drug trafficking" excuse serves as a pretext for regime-change objectives, control over oil-rich territories, and a bid to counter China's growing influence in the region.

In this context, Ecuador's potential hosting of US bases would further consolidate Washington's strategic reach along the Pacific and Caribbean corridors, complementing its recent deployments in the Caribbean, Colombia, and the Southern Command region.