President Daniel Noboa met on November 5, 2025, with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the former U.S. military base in Manta, Manabí province. Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo and Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld joined the meeting, held behind closed doors at the Combat Squadron headquarters.
Government spokesperson Carolina Jaramillo said Noem’s visit seeks to strengthen security cooperation and explore the establishment of “potential Homeland Security bases” in Ecuador. Noem later traveled to Salinas, Santa Elena.
This is Noem’s second visit to Ecuador in 2025, following a July trip that produced a border security agreement.