Media: Ecuador seeks US military presence amid strategic shift under Trump

Ecuadorian officials have signalled to allies of US President Donald Trump their interest in hosting a US military base on Ecuadorian soil.

Alongside this, Ecuador has also expressed a desire to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US, a deal that has long eluded the Andean nation, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

While neighbouring Colombia and Peru have had bilateral agreements with the US for over a decade, Ecuador is still seeking such a deal. These proposals were reportedly shared in recent weeks with Republican lobbyists in Washington. It remains unclear if the Trump administration is aware of or interested in these proposals, and the White House National Security Council has yet to respond to requests for comment.

The military base suggestion comes as part of a series of unconventional plans put forth by Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa. Noboa, who is facing a highly competitive runoff election in April, is looking to tackle crime while strengthening relations with Trump’s associates. Earlier this week, he announced a strategic partnership with Erik Prince, the founder of the private military firm Blackwater and a prominent Trump supporter, to combat crime and narcoterrorism in Ecuador. The 37-year-old Noboa, an heir to a major business fortune, has publicly advocated for bringing foreign military bases to Ecuador. 

The country's legislature is currently in the early stages of considering a potential constitutional change to lift the 2008 ban on foreign military installations, which was enacted under former President Rafael Correa. Historically, the US had military bases in Ecuador, including a World War II-era base on the Galapagos Islands and a narcotics trafficking operation base on the mainland until 2009, when Correa expelled the US military. 

Other countries in the region have also sought unconventional methods to forge closer ties with Washington, often aligning with Trump’s transactional foreign policy. In an effort to bolster its relationship with the Trump administration, Ecuador's government recently hired Mercury Public Affairs to represent its interests. However, the lobbying filing, which was submitted to the US Department of Justice, does not mention military bases, instead focusing on migration, trade, and security issues. With a tight election set for April 13, Noboa is set to face leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez, a former protege of Correa. Noboa has emphasised his administration’s success, including a 15 per cent reduction in violent deaths and efforts to curb prison violence. 

He has pledged to continue deploying the military to combat insecurity. In contrast, Gonzalez opposes the presence of foreign military personnel and advocates for more action against drug-related crime, including targeting corrupt judges and prosecutors. One source familiar with Ecuador's discussions with Republican lobbyists pointed out that the country may be requesting too many deliverables in too short a time frame. The US State Department typically limits bilateral engagement around election periods to avoid the appearance of favouring a particular party. 

President Trump has consistently emphasised the need to combat narcotics trafficking in Latin America and has shown an interest in expanding US military presence in the region. However, his administration’s approach to Latin America has been inconsistent, balancing threats such as tariffs on Mexico over fentanyl trafficking with agreements like a deportation deal with Venezuela, while refusing to renew Chevron’s license to operate there.

By Naila Huseynova