Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa Azin on Monday announced a decision to introduce a bill amending Article 5 of the constitution, to permit the establishment of foreign military bases in the country.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the president announced that a “Partial Reform Project to the Constitution” would be presented before the National Assembly. An official statement from the General Secretariat of Communication of the Presidency said that President Noboa would present this bill to “substantially modify Article 5” of the Constitution of Ecuador.

Drafted by a Constituent Assembly, the Constitution of Ecuador was approved by referendum in 2008. Article 5 of the Constitution states: “Ecuador is a territory of peace. The establishment of foreign military bases or foreign facilities for military purposes should not be allowed. It is forbidden to transfer national military bases to foreign armed or security forces.” The presidential proposal will eliminate all the specified prohibitions, stating: “Article 5 of the Constitution would read as follows: ‘Ecuador is a territory of peace.'”

A video Noboa posted announcing the decision was recorded at the military base in Manta, Manabí province. Established in 1999, the base had previously been leased to and operated by the United States military to combat drug trafficking. Ecuadorian activists long protested the presence of the US military. Upon taking power in 2007, President Rafael Correa—under whom the constitution was enacted—stated the lease would not be renewed, resulting in the US military formally leaving the Manta base in 2009. The statement from the General Secretariat of Communication affirms: “Ecuador is facing a battle against transnational crime. This requires a strong national and international response.”

In January, Noboa declared a nationwide state of emergency and officially acknowledged an internal armed conflict against organized crime groups following the escape of the leader of one of the country’s most powerful gangs. Targeting the escalating violence and crime carried out by drug-trafficking gangs in the country, the state of emergency established a curfew and permitted intervention by the National Police and Armed Forces.

The Secretariat General of Communication statement asserts: “Time has shown that old decisions have only weakened the country in the face of threats that today know no borders.” Addressing the legislative body, it adds: “It is time for the National Assembly to decide which side of history it will be on.”