Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said he welcomed the results of a Sunday referendum that rejected a proposal to allow foreign countries to run military bases in Ecuador, which followed talks that the South American country could host U.S. troops as part of a security cooperation to fight illicit drug trafficking.

"We respect the will of the Ecuadorian people," Noboa wrote on X on Monday.

Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment.

Why It Matters

The vote deals a blow to Noboa, who has aligned himself with U.S. President Donald Trump and advocated the need for international security cooperation to address issues such as illegal migration and drug trafficking by endorsing the possible presence of American troops. It also comes at a time when the U.S. has intensified

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