Published 01/26/2026 17:44 | Edited 01/26/2026 18:12
The government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa met this Sunday (25), in Quito, with representatives from the White House to advance cooperation agreements that provide for “military support” from the United States.
The initiative expands the North American presence in the country and is part of the advance of far-right governments in the region in strategic alignment with Washington.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador, the meeting took place with Joseph M. Humire, deputy assistant secretary of the United States Department of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs. The organization said that the meeting reaffirmed the “firm commitment” between the two countries and classified Ecuador as a “strategic partner” of Washington in the region.
The Ecuadorian delegation was led by Chancellor Gabriela Sommerfeld and was attended by the Ministers of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, and Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg, as well as other members of the security cabinet.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the conversations took place within the framework of bilateral cooperation in “security” and the fight against transnational organized crime.
The meeting takes place months after the North American military presence was submitted and rejected by popular vote.
In November last year, a referendum and popular consultation rejected the reactivation of foreign military bases in Ecuadorian territory, including facilities controlled by the United States. The result was read as a refusal to expand the North American military presence in the country.
After the meeting, Ecuadorian authorities highlighted the United States’ willingness to expand support to the country in the areas of drug trafficking and organized crime control, with a focus on ports, airports and borders.
In public statements, the Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg, stated that people or groups who try to use the Ecuadorian port infrastructure for illicit activities “will be attacked”.
The Ecuadorian government maintains that the agreements do not imply a violation of national sovereignty.
In a note, the Foreign Ministry stated that Ecuador and the United States have ratified the commitment to deepen the bilateral relationship through cooperation mechanisms that respect the Constitution and the country’s institutional particularities.
Even without mentioning bases or permanent presence of troops, the strengthening of military cooperation occurs in a regional context marked by the repositioning of far-right governments aligned with the United States security agenda, under the argument of combating organized crime. This movement has direct impacts on the defense policy and strategic autonomy of the countries involved.
Source: vermelho.org.br
