Ecuador rejects return of US navy bases in main setback for Noboa

[ad_1] Ecuadoran voters roundly rejected the return of US navy bases to the nation in a referendum Sunday, a significant political blow to Trump-friendly President Daniel Noboa.

With three-quarters of the vote counted, about 60 p.c of Ecuadorans had voted 'no' to lifting a longstanding ban on international bases.

The rejection successfully blocks the US navy from returning to an airbase at Manta on the Pacific coast -- as soon as a hub for Washington's anti-drug operations.

It's a severe defeat for Noboa, who has staked his political fortunes on tackling rampant cartel violence and forging an alliance with US President Donald Trump.

Almost 14 million Ecuadorans have been eligible to forged ballots on whether or not to overturn a 2008 ban on international navy bases within the nation.

"We respect the need of the Ecuadoran folks," Noboa stated, after outcomes confirmed a strong majority of voters had rejected his proposals.

Learn extra Ecuador votes on return of international navy bases and the best way to sort out drug violence

The vote got here in opposition to the backdrop of US navy airstrikes in opposition to alleged drug smuggling boats within the Caribbean and Pacific, a divisive coverage that Noboa has backed.

"The president's marketing campaign has been disastrous," stated 28-year-old engineer Oscar Varela. "Every part his authorities has stated has been a lie."

Voters have been additionally requested three different questions: whether or not they need to finish public funding for political events, cut back the variety of lawmakers, and create an elected physique that will draft a brand new structure.

Noboa had hoped a brand new structure would give him extra powers to sort out crime, curb the facility of the judiciary, and reform the financial system.

The early depend confirmed these proposals failing by a big margin, too.

Noboa had hoped a brand new structure would give him extra powers to sort out crime, curb the facility of the judiciary, and reform the financial system.

Unprecedented violence The result's a shock. Polls had predicted that Noboa would win on all 4 questions, and he stays personally standard, having lately gained a second time period in workplace.

The referendum occurred amid unprecedented violence sparked by turf wars between drug trafficking gangs who transport cocaine from Latin America to North America, Europe, and Asia.

In workplace since November 2023, Noboa has deployed troopers on the streets and in prisons, launched dramatic raids on drug strongholds, and declared frequent states of emergency -- criticised by human rights teams.

The 37-year-old Porsche-driving millionaire has additionally posted photos of lots of of inmates, their heads shaved, in orange uniforms being moved to a brand new mega-prison, echoing strikes by El Salvador's Nayib Bukele.

Nonetheless, within the first half of this 12 months, there have been 4,619 murders -- the "highest in current historical past," in response to Ecuador's Organised Crime Observatory.

Simply as voting started, Noboa introduced that the chief of the nation's most infamous gang, Los Lobos, had been captured.

Essentially the most-wanted drug kingpin generally known as "Pipo" had "faked his demise, modified his id, and hid in Europe," Noboa stated on X.

Inside Minister John Reimberg later stated "Pipo" had been detained in Spain in a joint operation between Ecuadoran and Spanish police.

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<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b8c42aca-c0a3-11f0-9ac5-005056bfb2b6/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251113-081844-082014-CS.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b8c42aca-c0a3-11f0-9ac5-005056bfb2b6/w:388/p:16x9/EN-20251113-081844-082014-CS.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b8c42aca-c0a3-11f0-9ac5-005056bfb2b6/w:720/p:16x9/EN-20251113-081844-082014-CS.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b8c42aca-c0a3-11f0-9ac5-005056bfb2b6/w:1024/p:16x9/EN-20251113-081844-082014-CS.jpg 1024w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b8c42aca-c0a3-11f0-9ac5-005056bfb2b6/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251113-081844-082014-CS.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) calc(100vw - 32px), (max-width: 1076px) calc(100vw - 44px), 850px" width="1280" height="720" alt="" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> © France 24 Controversial US strikes As soon as a lot safer, Ecuador now has one of many highest murder charges in Latin America, and lots of wish to give Noboa freer rein.

"It's the solely strategy to toughen the legal guidelines a bit and put an finish to the insecurity our nation is experiencing," Teresa Jacome, 60, advised AFP within the crime-ridden largest metropolis of Guayaquil.

The prospect of aiding Trump's lethal air marketing campaign in opposition to alleged drug trafficking boats loomed in some voters' minds.

Many Latin American governments are opposed, however Ecuador has turn out to be certainly one of Washington's high champions within the area.

Noboa has requested for Trump's assist in tackling cartels and floated the thought of US bases returning to Ecuadoran soil.

Concerning the opposite questions on the poll, Noboa says the present structure, at 400-plus articles, is simply too lengthy and has "many errors."

However he had been coy about what components of the structure he wish to change, resulting in allegations he desires to consolidate energy and curb rights.