Ecuador requested the deployment of U.S. troops from the Donald Trump administration to fight a 'war against gangs,' CNN and Reuters reported on the 29th local time. On the same day, President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador met with President Trump in Florida, and it is expected that the deployment of U.S. troops in Ecuador was discussed.
The Ecuadorian presidential communications office described the meeting as 'friendly and private' but did not disclose specific discussion details. However, CNN reported that a naval facility is under construction, indicating that a new naval facility is being prepared for U.S. support in the coastal city of Manta.
This facility is said to include barrack-style accommodations and offices, which will eventually be used by U.S. forces. Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it has signed a contract for the expansion of a 150-meter-long pier in an existing port.
President Noboa has argued for the necessity of having foreign military bases and has requested the United States, Brazil, and European countries to join in the war against gangs. He has also asked the U.S. government to designate armed groups within Ecuador as terrorist organizations, hoping to receive support from U.S. forces through this.
In recent years, Ecuador has become a 'battleground' for drug cartels, and gang activities have increased. President Noboa has intensified public safety operations since taking office in November 2023, but gang activities remain active.