Overview
- President Daniel Noboa proposes using Baltra as a hub to counter illegal fishing, narcotrafficking and fuel smuggling while promising benefits for Galápagos residents.
- He argues the plan would protect sensitive ecosystems, while opponents and scientists warn of threats to sovereignty and risks to endemic species.
- The Pentagon reports recent Pacific strikes that killed 14 suspected traffickers, bringing deaths in the U.S. anti-drug campaign since September to at least 57.
- Noboa also mentioned potential facilities in Salinas and Manta and floated specialized sites for illegal-fishing control, drug interdiction and a possible U.S. Homeland Security presence.
- Baltra hosted a U.S. installation during World War II and Manta housed a U.S. anti-narcotics site until 2009, a legacy shaping today’s debate.