US to establish Security Bases in Ecuador‘s Manta Amid Rising Drug Violence,Petro Controversy
MANTA,ECUADOR – The United States is preparing to install “security and defense” bases in the Ecuadorian city of Manta,a strategic location currently at the epicenter of a surge in drug-related violence and recently the site of a controversial visit by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The move comes as Ecuador grapples wiht escalating power struggles between roughly twenty local drug organizations linked to international cartels, and with the full support of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa.
The planned US presence aims to bolster Ecuador’s fight against transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, which has fueled a dramatic spike in homicides. Over the past six years,Ecuador’s homicide rate has skyrocketed by more than 600%,transforming the nation into one of the most violent in Latin America. The US is actively engaging in a military offensive in the Pacific and Caribbean, including deadly attacks against alleged drug boats, a strategy endorsed by Noboa’s management.
President Petro’s recent trip to Manta following the inauguration of Noboa in Quito drew scrutiny due to its lack of an official agenda and his extended stay in the city-considered one of the world’s most dangerous. Speculation arose regarding a potential meeting between Petro and José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” a key figure linked to the Los Choneros criminal institution, allegations his government has denied. The US base installations are proceeding despite the diplomatic questions raised by Petro’s visit and the ongoing security concerns within the region.
