Ecuador leader proposes lifting ban on foreign military bases

President Noboa came to power less than a year ago after a snap election following the resignation of President Guillermo Lasso.

Noboa has already said he will run for re-election in February 2025 and Monday’s announcement is seen as an attempt to be seen as a decisive and active leader, despite the gang violence which continues to blight Ecuador.

Polls suggest there has been a fall in the president’s approval ratings in recent months.

Analysts say this is mainly due to the lack of results in the “war” he has declared on criminal groups operating in Ecuador.

Port cities, in particular Guayaquil and Durán, have seen the number of murders and kidnappings skyrocket.

Before the US handed over the Manta base in 2009, it had been an important outpost for its counter-narcotic operations in South America.

President Noboa has long argued that evicting the US military was a mistake which led to transnational crime groups taking hold in Ecuador.