Ecuador moves toward the return of foreign military bases – CounterVortex

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa Azin on September 16 announced a decision to introduce a bill to amend Article 5 of the Constitution, to allow the establishment of foreign military bases in the country. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the president announced that a “Partial Constitutional Reform Project” would be presented to the National Assembly. A official statement of the General Secretariat for Communications of the Presidency said that President Noboa would submit this bill to substantially amend “Article 5” of the Constitution of Ecuador.

Ecuador’s Constitution, drafted by a Constituent Assembly, was approved by referendum in 2008. Article 5 of the Constitution states: “Ecuador is an area of ​​peace. The establishment of foreign military bases or foreign facilities for military purposes should not be permitted. It is prohibited to transfer national military bases to foreign armed forces or security forces.” The presidential proposal would eliminate all specified bans and state: “Article 5 of the Constitution would read as follows: ‘Ecuador is an area of ​​peace.’”

A video Noboa posted announcing the decision was recorded at the military base in Manta, Manabí province. Established in 1999, the base was previously leased and operated by the U.S. military to combat drug trafficking. Ecuadorian activists have long protested against the presence of the US military. When left-wing populist President Rafael Correa came to power in 2007 – under whom the current constitution was created – he declared that the lease would not be renewed, leading to the US military formally leaving the Manta base in 2009.

The statement from the General Secretariat for Communications said: “Ecuador is facing a battle against cross-border crime. This requires a strong national and international response… Time has shown that old decisions have only weakened the country in the face of threats that today know no borders.” Addressing the legislature, it adds: “It is time for the National Assembly to decide which side of history it will find itself on.”

From Jurist, September 17. Used with permission.

See our latest posts about Manta and the internal conflict in Ecuador that broke out in January.

Card: PCL