During a visit to Ecuador, Marco Rubio stated that the US is open to sending troops to the country.

247 - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the country is willing to consider sending troops to Ecuador, more than 15 years after the previous government requested the withdrawal of U.S. forces. During a press conference in Quito on Thursday, Rubio commented on the growing rapprochement between the two countries, which has been marked by a stance more aligned with the administration of Daniel Noboa, the current president of Ecuador. "If they invite us to return, we will consider it very seriously, because it is a request from an ally in a very strategic region of the world," Rubio told reporters.

Rubio's comment comes in the context of a rapprochement between the two countries, which began in the last two years with the arrival of President Daniel Noboa to office. Unlike his predecessor, Rafael Correa, who did not renew an agreement that allowed the US to use the Manta air base in 2009, Noboa has adopted a more open stance to strengthen relations with the United States, especially on issues related to drug trafficking and regional security.

Currently, President Noboa is working to reform Ecuador's constitution in order to once again allow the presence of foreign military bases in the country. During the press conference, Rubio also announced that the United States will allocate more than $13 million to Ecuador to help combat drug trafficking and crime. "Ecuador is facing an external threat unlike any previous administration has ever faced," said Rubio.