Ecuador votes on return of US military bases to tackle drug violence

"Ecuadoreans are voting on whether to lift a constitutional ban on foreign military bases as right-wing President Daniel Noboa pushes for help from the United States in confronting spiralling drug-fuelled violence. Nearly 14 million people cast ballots on Sunday in a referendum that also asks whether to reduce the number of lawmakers. The vote comes as Ecuador grapples with unprecedented bloodshed, with the country's homicide rate projected to hit 50 per 100,000 people this year, the highest in Latin America."

"Polls suggest more than 61 percent of voters back allowing foreign bases, which would likely see the US return to the Manta airbase on the Pacific coast. US forces operated from Manta between 1999 and 2009 as part of anti-narcotics efforts, until leftist President Rafael Correa held a referendum on foreign troops, resulting in their constitutional ban. Ecuador, once considered one of the more stable countries in the region, has in recent years faced a sharp rise in violence,"

Nearly 14 million Ecuadoreans cast ballots on a referendum asking whether to lift a constitutional ban on foreign military bases and whether to reduce the number of lawmakers. The measure aims to allow foreign assistance, notably from the United States, to confront spiralling drug-fuelled violence. Ecuador's homicide rate is projected to reach 50 per 100,000 people this year, the highest in Latin America. Polls indicated more than 61% support for allowing bases, which could reopen the Manta airbase previously used by US forces from 1999 to 2009. President Daniel Noboa has deployed soldiers, launched raids, declared states of emergency and tightened security as cartels expand. The first half of the year recorded 4,619 murders, and authorities announced the arrest in Malaga of Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, known as Pipo, following cross-border cooperation.

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