Ecuadorians are voting this weekend on a referendum that could allow foreign militaries to establish bases within the country for the first time in 16 years. The proposed constitutional change opens the door for a potential return of United States forces to a strategic airfield in the port city of Manta. This vote occurs amid a broader Pentagon effort to reactivate military infrastructure across Latin America and the Caribbean.
High-level discussions about security cooperation have been ongoing between the Trump administration and the government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem toured the former base site in Manta with President Noboa, a visit that signals serious consideration of the arrangement. The Pentagon has not officially confirmed plans to station troops in Ecuador if the measure passes, but the referendum represents a pivotal policy reversal.
“The United States government is aware of the request from the Republic of Ecuador for security assistance,” a Pentagon official stated. [Translated from Spanish] “We continue to provide training and educational support to our Ecuadorian partners.”
Approval of the referendum would mark a dramatic shift for a nation that constitutionally banned foreign military bases in 2008. The outcome is being closely watched in Washington and regional capitals.
Revitalizing a Regional Footprint
The potential return to Manta is part of a wider, concerted push by the U.S. military to revive previously abandoned installations across the hemisphere. This strategic pivot comes as the Department of Defense reallocates resources away from the Middle East and toward what it terms “great power competition” in its own backyard. Official statements frame the buildup as a counter-narcotics operation, citing over 20 announced U.S. strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific this year alone.
These actions, however, require a robust and permanent logistical network. The infrastructure now being renovated would support far more than just maritime interdiction missions. It enables a sustained, large-scale presence.
Simultaneous reactivation efforts are visible at other key locations. On the island of puerto rico, major renovations are underway at the once-shuttered Naval Station Roosevelt Roads. Satellite imagery shows a flurry of activity on the base’s airstrip and a surge in temporary housing for construction crews. The base sprung back to life this fall with the deployment of advanced F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.
Further south, U.S. soldiers and Marines have begun training at a new jungle warfare school in Panama. This school operates from the former Fort Sherman, a base handed back to Panamanian control a quarter-century ago. This potential return to old haunts demonstrates a methodical effort to reestablish a physical footprint.
Strategic Value of a Pacific Outpost
The Manta base holds particular strategic value due to its location. Situated on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, it would provide the U.S. military with a critical operating hub on the western side of South America. American airstrikes against suspected drug-running boats have recently expanded into the eastern Pacific, making a nearby airfield an invaluable asset for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions as well as rapid deployment.
Originally known as Forward Operating Location Manta, the base hosted U.S. Air Force and Navy units from 1999 until its closure in 2009. It functioned primarily as a launch point for counter-drug surveillance aircraft. Its reestablishment would significantly extend the reach of U.S. Southern Command, which is headquartered in Florida.
Thousands of American sailors and Marines have been deployed aboard ships in the Caribbean in recent months. While effective, a ship-based presence is transient. Permanent or semi-permanent bases offer greater stability, more extensive facilities, and deeper integration with host-nation forces. They transform a rotational presence into an enduring one.
This strategy of reviving old bases is not without precedent. The military is employing a similar playbook in the Pacific theater, where it is updating World War II-era airfields on remote islands to counter Chinese influence. The reactivation of Roosevelt Roads and the exploration of Manta represent the Caribbean and Latin American component of this global posture realignment.
Regional Reactions and Military Buildup
The growing U.S. military activity has not gone unnoticed by regional powers. Venezuela’s government publicly announced it was mobilizing its armed forces in a direct response to the increased American presence. This show of force highlights the geopolitical tensions simmering beneath the surface of Washington’s counter-narcotics justification.
Adding to the complex security picture, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its accompanying strike group recently entered the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. The arrival of America’s most advanced aircraft carrier represents a massive and unmistakable projection of naval power into the region.
This buildup was formally organized last month under a new task force, recently renamed Joint Task Force-Southern Spear. Its operations are supported by allied nations, with several U.S. Air Force and special operations aircraft observed using airfields in El Salvador. The united states is clearly leveraging partnerships to create a networked web of access throughout Central and South America.
For Ecuador, the decision rests with its voters. A ‘yes’ vote on the constitutional assembly question would not only alter the nation’s legal framework but could also reshape the strategic landscape of an entire continent. It would signal a willingness to formally align with Washington’s security priorities in a tangible, high-profile way. The world awaits the result, knowing that a single airfield in Manta carries implications far beyond its runways.