US aircraft will be able to use San Cristobal airport, Ecuador's defence minister Oswaldo Jarrin has been quoted as saying.
The reported deal has prompted concerns over the potential impact on the environment and Ecuador's sovereignty.
— bbc.com
The BBC reports that under a new agreement with the government of Ecuador, United States military aircraft will be allowed to use an airfield on the island of San Cristobal to "fight drug trafficking."
The islands are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their rich biological and ecological diversity. The plan has alarmed conservationists and Ecuadorian patriots, alike. The BBC reports, for example, that Ecuador's constitution regards the nation as "a territory of peace" and that the "establishment of foreign military bases or foreign facilities for military purposes shall not be allowed."
The extent of US military operations on the island is not yet known, but Telesur reports that the forces are expected to make "modifications" of some sort to the island, according to Ecuador's defense minister Oswaldo Jarrin.
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