Ecuador will hold a referendum on whether to allow the establishment of foreign military bases.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Ecuador held a referendum on 16th on four issues including whether to allow the establishment of foreign military bases. The voting started at 7 a.m. local time, and the preliminary results are expected to be announced that evening. Ecuador has over 13.9 million voters. Voters must choose whether to agree to cancel the constitutional prohibition on foreign countries establishing or using military bases in Ecuador in the referendum. In addition, voters will also vote on issues such as drafting a new constitution, allocating budget funds to political parties, and reducing the number of National Assembly members. Vote counting will begin after the voting ends at 5 p.m. local time. In this referendum, more than 800 observers participated in supervising the voting, and over 100,000 soldiers and police officers were responsible for security. Ecuadorian President Moreno has repeatedly claimed that the country is facing a serious violence crisis and needs foreign military intervention to combat drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and transnational organized crime.