Ecuador to Reconsider Foreign Military Bases Amid Growing Regional Threat

President Lenín Moreno, a conservative leader who has been critical of the previous government's handling of the issue, has been a key proponent of lifting the ban. He has argued that the presence of foreign military bases would help to combat the growing threat of drug trafficking in the region, which has been linked to the Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican and Colombian groups. Moreno has also been critical of the previous government's decision to expel the United States from the Manta airbase in 2009, which he has said was a mistake that has allowed drug traffickers to operate more freely in the country. The vote on Sunday will be the first time that Ecuadorians have been given the opportunity to weigh in on the issue. The referendum, which was called by the government, will ask voters whether they support the lifting of the ban on foreign military bases. The outcome of the vote is uncertain, with some polls suggesting that a majority of voters may support the measure. The issue of foreign military bases in Ecuador has been a contentious one in the country for years, with many Ecuadorians expressing concerns about the potential impact on the country's sovereignty and national security. The previous government, led by Rafael Correa, was strongly opposed to the idea of foreign military bases, and the decision to expel the United States from the Manta airbase was seen as a major victory for the country's anti-imperialist movement. However, the current government has argued that the presence of foreign military bases would be a necessary step in the fight against drug trafficking, which has had a devastating impact on the country. According to the United Nations, Ecuador is one of the main transit points for cocaine shipments from Colombia to the United States, and the country has been working to strengthen its security cooperation with the United States in recent years. The vote on Sunday is seen as a key test of the government's ability to implement its security policies, and the outcome will have significant implications for the country's relations with the United States and other countries in the region. The United States has been a key supporter of the government's efforts to combat drug trafficking, and the establishment of military bases in Ecuador would be a significant step in the strengthening of bilateral relations. In a statement, President Moreno said that the vote on Sunday was an opportunity for Ecuadorians to take a stand against the threat of drug trafficking and to demonstrate their commitment to the country's security and sovereignty. "We are not asking for foreign bases for military intervention or occupation," he said. "We are asking for cooperation and support to combat the threat of drug trafficking, which is a threat to the security and well-being of all Ecuadorians." The outcome of the vote on Sunday will be closely watched by observers in the region and around the world, and will have significant implications for the country's relations with the United States and other countries in the region.