U.S. Ratifies Troops Withdrawal from Ecuadorian Air Base

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The United States on Tuesday ratified the withdrawal of its troops from the Manta military base, a strategic outpost for anti-drug operations in the Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Heather M. Hodges reaffirmed the U.S. promise of withdrawing the troops, and thanked Ecuador for allowing its planes to land in the country for the past 10 years.

"We are thankful for being able to use the Aerial Base of Manta so our plane could land. The government of President Rafael Correa has requested that we leave the place and we will leave," she said.

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