CNN has obtained internal plans confirming that Ecuador is preparing to host U.S. military forces at a new naval facility in Manta, signaling an aggressive new phase in President Daniel Noboa’s crackdown on organized crime. The move is part of a broader pitch to U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Noboa is meeting this weekend in Florida to discuss security cooperation, immigration, and trade.

The facility under construction includes barracks-style housing and administrative offices meant to support long-term joint operations. Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo confirmed to CNN that “when troops from another country come, they bring resources. And those are what we need the most.”

This initiative comes amid a sweeping anti-gang campaign that has militarized public security across Ecuador and follows a January 2024 prison break by gang leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar. Since then, Ecuador has declared states of emergency, deployed its military, and begun formal negotiations with foreign actors—including private military contractors like Erik Prince.

Ecuador now has the highest homicide rate in Latin America. The violence, driven by alliances between local gangs and foreign cartels, has been punctuated by scenes of torture, police corruption, and makeshift altars to narco-deities. Noboa’s government has conducted night raids and arrests, but admits it is managing, not defeating, the violence.

The potential U.S. deployment marks a significant shift in the region. Ecuador is explicitly inviting foreign boots on the ground, unlike Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected similar offers. Renderings reviewed by CNN include DEA-linked facilities and docks labeled for U.S. Southern Command. U.S. officials confirmed that projects previously on hold are now moving forward under the Trump regime.

Noboa has also requested the U.S. designate Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, potentially opening the door to expanded U.S. military jurisdiction. The regime had already created this distinction for gangs in Mexico, causing fear in the country.

The outcome of Ecuador’s April 13 runoff election will determine how far Noboa can go. His challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, opposes foreign military presence. But construction in Manta is moving quickly—an indication that Noboa expects international help to arrive soon.

Whether that help materializes—and what strings come attached—remains to be seen.