Donald Trump and Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa meet at Mar-a-Lago to discuss bilateral security cooperation
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa strengthens ties with the U.S. after meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Key topics: security, cooperation, and a potential military base.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Noboa shared a photo of the meeting on his official X account, featuring himself, Trump, and his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi, but did not disclose details of their conversation. The Ecuadorian Presidency described the meeting as "friendly and private," with more information to be released later. The White House has not issued a statement regarding the meeting.
Noboa seeks U.S. military base in Manta to combat drug violence and strengthen security ties
According to CNN, Noboa traveled to Florida with a proposal to reestablish a U.S. military base in Manta, a coastal area affected by drug-related violence. The Ecuadorian government has reportedly identified a location and prepared plans for the project. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt stated that Trump is committed to strengthening bilateral security cooperation with Ecuador, including the recent agreement in Manta, and is considering expanding joint efforts against transnational criminal organizations.
The U.S. previously operated a military base in Manta from 1999 to 2009, primarily for Pacific surveillance and counter-narcotics operations. During his visit, Noboa also requested that the U.S. designate Ecuadorian irregular armed groups as terrorist organizations. Recently, the U.S. designated six Mexican cartels and the transnational criminal gang "Tren de Aragua" as terrorist organizations, enabling enhanced military actions against them.
Noboa highlights strong U.S. ties and removal from priority deportation list
Noboa's relationship with Trump has been notably close. Born in Miami in 1987, Noboa was among the few Latin American leaders invited to Trump's inauguration in January. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the U.S., stating, "Our policy is to have a good relationship with the U.S. Our stance is to help provide opportunities in the country because we must address the problem at its origin."
Additionally, Noboa announced that Ecuador has been removed from the U.S. priority deportation list, highlighting this as a diplomatic achievement. He stated, "We established a sincere relationship with the U.S." This development underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations amid ongoing discussions on security and cooperation.