United States military aircraft detected at Ecuador's Taura base

An investigation has revealed that dozens of United States military aircraft have been operating out of the Taura military base in Ecuador near Guayaquil since June. Flight tracking data from AirNav Radar and Flightradar24 identified approximately 20 flights involving various aircraft, including C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules, V-22 Osprey, and Black Hawk helicopters.

These operations follow an announcement of increased cooperation between the two nations to combat drug trafficking as part of the ‘Shield of the Americas’ security alliance. Satellite imagery shows significant expansion work at the 70-year-old base, including the clearing of vegetation near runways and access roads.

The presence of foreign troops has raised legal questions within Ecuador. Documents show that the former commander of the Air Force, Mauricio Salazar, requested clarification on the legal framework for hosting foreign military personnel without violating the Constitution. Following this inquiry, Salazar was removed from his position and reassigned to a lower rank.