Overview
- U.S. Embassy and Ecuadorian authorities confirmed the arrival of U.S. Air Force personnel in Manta for a short-term operation with the Ecuadorian Air Force focused on intelligence and counter-narcotics.
- Ecuador’s Defense Ministry said U.S. C‑17 aircraft delivered military material in recent days, while stating that operational information remains classified.
- President Daniel Noboa said the effort will help identify and dismantle trafficking routes on the Pacific corridor and target groups he calls narco‑terrorists.
- The operation runs under 2023 bilateral agreements that permit joint actions and provide U.S. forces with privileges, immunities, jurisdictional provisions, and freedom of movement.
- The deployment comes one month after a referendum rejected foreign bases and aligns with a broader U.S. regional campaign against suspected narco boats that press reports say has left about 95 dead since September.